Matapiata | The Strategy to Prevent and Minimise Gambling Harm in New Zealand
Published:
July 7, 2025
The Strategy to Prevent and Minimise Gambling Harm in New Zealand is a public health approach aimed at reducing the negative impacts of gambling on individuals, families, and communities. The latest strategy, covering the period from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2028, outlines how the Ministry of Health and Health New Zealand will fund and coordinate services to address gambling-related harm. This includes increasing access to treatment and support, improving prevention and early intervention, and enhancing the effectiveness of support services.
Key aspects of the strategy include:
Integrated Public Health Approach:
The strategy adopts a public health framework, recognizing that gambling harm affects a significant portion of the population and requires a multi-faceted response.
Funding Mechanism:
The strategy is funded through a problem gambling levy imposed on the gambling industry, ensuring it is fiscally neutral to the Crown over time.
Targeted Interventions:
The strategy focuses on increasing access to treatment and support services, improving prevention and early intervention, and enhancing the effectiveness of support for those experiencing harm.
Community Focus:
The strategy emphasizes community-based solutions and aims to make decision-making as close to communities as possible.
Addressing Disparities:
The strategy acknowledges that gambling harm disproportionately affects certain groups, including Māori, Pacific, Asian, and youth, and seeks to address these disparities.
Read the strategy here.
