Associate health minister Jenny Salesa encourages you to have your say on a refreshed strategy to prevent and minimise gambling harm.
Every three years the Ministry of Health undertakes a refresh of the strategy and public consultation on its proposals is now open.
"Gambling harm is a significant issue with up to one in five New Zealand adults affected at some time in their lives, either by their own gambling or the gambling of others,” says Jenny Salesa.
“Estimates suggest 37,000 people aged 15 years or older are at high risk of harm from gambling or are ‘problem gamblers’.
“Gambling and its effects can impact on anyone at any time, and that’s why it’s crucial we get feedback from as many people as possible to this draft strategy.”
The Gambling Act (2003) specifies the strategy must include measures to promote public health; services to treat and assist problem gamblers and their whanau; and independent scientific research associated with gambling, for example research on the social and economic impacts of gambling, particularly the impacts of gambling on different cultural groups.
It also includes proposals for a problem gambling levy set at a different rate for each of the four main gambling sectors.
“We’ve made it easy to have your voice heard – with 10 public and industry meetings over the next fortnight,” says Jenny Salesa.
“The meetings are taking place in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. For a list, visit the consultation page on the Ministry of Health website here.
“Everyone’s invited and the meetings will provide people with an opportunity to hear about the draft strategy, ask questions and have their say.
“It’s important feedback comes from the widest cross-section of society as possible, particularly communities most affected by gambling harm. That’s why we are also hosting meetings to get feedback from the Maori, Pacific and Asian populations.
“If you’re unable to attend one of these meeting, it’s just as easy to provide feedback, by either completing the Ministry of Health’s online submissions form or emailing a submission to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
“So please make your views known and contribute to shaping the future direction of the strategy to prevent and minimise gambling harm,” says Jenny Salesa.
https://www.nzdoctor.co.nz/article/undoctored/consultation-open-strategy-prevent-and-minimise-gambling-harm
Strategy to Prevent and Minimise Gambling Harm 2019/20 to 2021/22: Consultation document
The Gambling Act 2003 sets out requirements for an ‘integrated problem gambling strategy focused on public health’.
The Ministry of Health is responsible for developing and refreshing the strategy at three-yearly intervals, and for implementing it. The Crown recovers the cost of developing and implementing the strategy, by way of a ‘problem gambling levy’ set by regulation at a different rate for each of the main gambling sectors. The Act specifies consultation requirements for the development of the strategy and the levy rates.
Consistent with these requirements, the Ministry is now seeking your comments on its draft Strategy to Prevent and Minimise Gambling Harm for 2019/20 to 2021/22 and on the draft levy rates.
The consultation document also refers to the needs assessment required by the Act, which looks at facts and figures relating to gambling harm in New Zealand, and has informed development of the consultation document.
How to have your say
The closing date for submissions is 5.00 pm, Friday 21 September 2018.
You can make a submission by:
Please send only one copy of your submission.
Please note the Ministry would prefer to receive your submission in an electronic format.
Consultation meetings
To inform you about the proposals, and to help you to make your written submission, the Ministry is holding meetings as set out in the Meeting schedule below.
Except for the consumer hui which are for people affected by gambling harm and their support services, you are welcome to attend a meeting that is most convenient for you. However the focus of each meeting is on the stakeholders listed.
At the meetings, the Ministry will speak about its draft Strategy and levy proposals and describe the process for making submissions. You are welcome to ask questions about the Strategy and provide comments if you wish. For the meetings on 20–22 August we will bring hard copies of the consultation document to those meetings.
Please note we are not expecting you to provide substantive feedback at these meetings and there will be time after the meeting to make a submission.
RSVP for Auckland meetings
Please RSVP by 27 August by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and say which meeting you are attending.
Meetings schedule
WELLINGTON
Monday 20 August
| Stakeholders |
Time |
Venue |
| General |
12 to 2 pm |
Ministry of Health 133 Molesworth Street, Wellington, Rooms GC1+2 |
| Gambling industry |
3 to 5 pm |
Ministry of Health 133 Molesworth Street, Wellington, Rooms GN8+9 |
DUNEDIN
Tuesday 21 August
| Stakeholders |
Time |
Venue |
| General |
1 to 3 pm |
Mercure Dunedin Leisure Lodge, 30 Duke Street |
CHRISTCHURCH
Wednesday 22 August
| Stakeholders |
Time |
Venue |
| General |
10 am to 12 pm |
Rydges Christchurch, 30 Latimer Square, Clarendon Room |
AUCKLAND
Wednesday 29 August
| Stakeholders |
Time |
Venue |
| General |
10 am to 12 pm |
Mt Eden War Memorial Hall, 489 Dominion Road, Mt Eden |
| Māori viewpoints |
2 to 5 pm |
Holiday Inn, 2 Ascot Road, Airport Oaks, Richard Pearce Room |
Thursday 30 August
| Stakeholders |
Time |
Venue |
| Gambling industry |
10 am to 12 pm |
Mt Eden War Memorial Hall, 489 Dominion Road, Mt Eden |
| Asian viewpoint |
1 to 4 pm |
Mt Eden War Memorial Hall, 489 Dominion Road, Mt Eden |
| Consumers |
6 to 8 pm |
Mt Eden War Memorial Hall, 489 Dominion Road, Mt Eden |
Friday 31 August
| Stakeholders |
Time |
Venue |
| Pacific viewpoints |
10 am to 1 pm |
Manukau Institute of Technology, 53 Otara Rd, Otara, Tanoa Room |
Privacy
We may publish submissions on the Ministry's website, unless you have asked us not to. If you are submitting as an individual, we will automatically remove your personal details and any identifiable information. You can chose to have your personal details withheld if your submission is requested under the Official Information Act.
