If all teams were effectively "owned" by NZF but run by local football people, could trust money then be centrally collected and distributed evenly to all teams because it would be staying within the national body, not going to a third party? Effectively each team would be an operating unit within NZF which is based in x town and plays football against other operating units of NZF. Like a franchise but all ultimately part of and accountable to the national body. Would probably create all sorts of new issues but would it solve the pokie money issue?
The more the national body pulls from pokies the less for local clubs and the spiral starts.