Half of New Zealand's problem gamblers live in the most deprived areas, associate Health Minister Tariana Turia says.Mrs Turia said the New Zealand Health Survey showed Maori were about four times more likely to be problem gamblers than the rest of the po
Half of New Zealand's problem gamblers live in the most deprived areas, associate Health Minister Tariana Turia says.
Mrs Turia said the New Zealand Health Survey showed Maori were about four times more likely to be problem gamblers than the rest of the population.
"We should not be surprised at this disproportionately high gambling prevalence," she said in a speech at the opening today of the International Indigenous Problem Gambling Symposium in Rotorua.
"The most economically deprived areas have a far higher number of non-casino gaming machines, lotteries and TAB outlets than in lower deprivation areas.
"Subsequently, people living in more socio-economically deprived areas are significantly more likely to be problem gamblers than other people -- half of all problem gamblers live in the most deprived areas."
Mrs Turia said the low socioeconomic status of Maori made them particularly vulnerable to gambling problems.
"Maori spend almost twice as much on gambling as non-Maori yet the Maori median income is half that of non-Maori."
Mrs Turia said the challenge was how to transform people's lives in ways that would enable them to take back more control over their lives.
"Innovation lies with both whanau themselves -- to encourage them to become more self-determining -- and with the agencies of the state to support a more holistic approach."
