Manaakitia Te Rawa Kore—Supporting the Disempowered

Abstract

As part of its service to reduce harm from problem gambling, Ngāti Porou Hauora (a New Zealand indigenous-led health service provider) aims to reduce the number of non-casino gambling machines (pokies) legally able to operate in the Gisborne district of the North Island’s East Coast. This case study summarises, from the Ngāti Porou Hauora perspective, its problem gambling service’s journey of working with others between 2003 and 2005 to achieve a local government ‘sinking lid’ policy for pokies as part of the council’s class 4 gambling venues policy. New Zealand’s Gambling Act 2003 and Local Government Act 2002, and the expansion of the Ngāti Porou Hauora problem gambling service team in 2003, set the scene for this local policy action. How the team learnt about and negotiated their way through local government policy-making processes and community interest groups and issues is documented. In conclusion, reflections are shared on the critical factors that contributed to achieving this policy outcome—knowledge and use of the community empowerment opportunities arising from recent legislation, the qualities and skills of the team, and the community relationships and collaborations they established.