Abstract
The harms associated with the proliferation of gambling opportunities is increasingly being researched and documented as part of a public health approach to reduce gambling related harm in many countries. New Zealand has had a history of gambling for just under 200 years with the behaviour introduced by new settlers to New Zealand and the indigenous population around 1840. This paper proposes that gambling contributes to the social disorganisation and social deprivation of many communities and especially, those which are low income and are the residence of indigenous and ethnic minority populations. New Zealand has adopted a public health approach to addressing gambling related harm and this is supported through legislation. As part of a public health approach to reduce gambling related harm new questions are proposed to challenge those who have power in the licensing and regulation of gambling and the authority as where public health resources should be directed to remove gambling related harm. Maori the indigenous population of New Zealand is the focus this paper, but the questions proposed can be used by different groups in communities where gambling creates harm.
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Notes
At present in Auckland which is the largest city in New Zealand, which has a diverse ethnic population, there has been increasing concerns by the Police and local communities of the degree of violence and crime generated by youth in specific communities. Explanations of the factors which are creating youth violence mirror those which are described as characteristics of socially disorganised communities.
In June 2006, two babies who had been under the care of the Child, Youth and Family Service and were returned to the care of their parents and then were shortly admitted to Auckland Hospital and died with severe brain damage. Since the death of these twins, the family responsible for their care has been silent, under investigation by the Police, and have been scrutinised by other social agencies, for their social and economic circumstances and overall general lifestyle.
The death of these twins, including the public display of their photographs, at death, has been shown widely in the media. This case has generated considerable public debate as to the causes of death, what local services were available, who should be responsible for the situation that has occurred and what changes should occur in public policy to make these families accountable for their lifestyle (Cook 2006). Kahui kids return to family. New Zealand Herald. Auckland.
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Dyall, L. Gambling, Social Disorganisation and Deprivation. Int J Ment Health Addiction 5, 320–330 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-007-9085-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-007-9085-5