Choice not Chance

Posted by peter on 1 May 2011 | 0 Comments

Tags: Gambling, addictions

The 'Choice not Chance' camapign launch was attended by around 100 local residents, many of whom have had their lives impacted upon by Gambling.

A leading New Zealand hip hop rapper and recording artist Malo Luafutu, better known by his stage name Scribe, spoke and rapped about his addiction to gambling and the cost to him and his family.

Scribe recounted how he had been inadvertently switched on to gambling by his Nana taking him to housie at a very young age. “This addiction does not discriminate, our community already has it hard, many of us are on the ‘bene’....and gambling is often seen as our one chance to have KFC this week....and no one was there to educate me how bad this addiction (gambling) could be.”

In 2011, Scribe came clean on Campbell Live, describing how he became addicted to drugs, alcohol and gambling between 2005 and 2007.

Scribe recounted that his addiction to gambling had led  to his family denying him access to money, to the point that he had to pawn off many of the platinum awards that he won from his debut album.

However, as Scribe pointed out, “as negative and messed up your life is, or becomes: you can still do some really awesome things. You have the power to change. It is your choice.”

The meeting was also addressed by Porirua City, Deputy Mayor, Liz Kelly, and the Hon Peter Dunne MP associate Minister of Health.

To find out more about this campaign click here.