National Pacific Gambling Stakeholders Providers Hui

Pacific ‘Ui Paanga /Fono / Fakataha

Rydges, Rotorua; Monday 30 April 2007

Te Ururoa Flavell, Member of Parliament for Waiariki

I am greatly honoured to welcome you to Waiariki, to the rohe of Te Arawa, as both the Member of Parliament for this region; and on behalf of the Maori Party.

I am particularly honoured to do so, recognising the complex network of connections tangata whenua have always enjoyed with tangata Pasifika.

Nowhere, is our relationship within the Pacific more evident than in our shared heritage and bonds established in the trenches and recalled in RSA rooms and marae throughout the country.

Last week, as this nation recognised the sacrifices made in war, the Niue community in Auckland gathered together to remember the 151 men who left the shores of Niue to fight in World War One as part of the Pioneer Maori Battalion, Te Hokowhitu a Tu.

Stories were shared of the huge cost of that conflict upon Niue. It was the first time that anyone had left the islands and the men were ill-prepared for the change in climate; let alone the cultural shock.

A troop of fifty Cook Island soldiers were also honourable members of the Maori Battalion.

2227 Maori and 458 Pacific Islanders fought together during World War One; as well as contributing to other conflicts including World War Two and Viet Nam.

Today, we gather together to fight another war.

This time, the enemy is the one-armed bandit; the problem of compulsive gambling.

This time the venue is far from the sands of Egypt, the gunfire of North Africa and the green hills of Southern Italy. It's happening in housie halls, in casinos, and in pubs and clubs throughout the country - and most often in those neighbourhoods and communities least able to afford it.

And it is a fight that we should be extremely well equipped for.

As sea voyagers and explorers, the peoples of the Pacific have always been focused on reaching the paradise at the edge of our horizons.

Tangata whenua share in common with the peoples of Te Moananui a Kiwa, a passion for adventure, a genealogy of journeying; an inclination for risk-taking.

Collectively, we have been able to navigate the largest ocean in the world with a set of skills developed from centuries of accumulated experience, observation and knowledge.

These then, are the tools and resources we must apply to the elimination of gambling harm.

Our greatest resource is our people, he tangata, he tangata, he tangata.

And yet our greatest resource is being worn down by the impact of this problem.

In 2003, the Salvation Army surveyed people accessing their South Auckland foodbank, and found that over one third applying for food parcels had a problem gambler in their household. Of that third, nearly 80% had two or more children in their home. It is the most vulnerable and the poorest of our society that are being hurt.

The Maori Party policy direction is very clear. We have a commitment to support community activities so that gambling machines can be removed or the numbers reduced.

Research from Dr Wiremu Manaia of the Problem Gambling Research Initiative has concluded that for many Maori, our low socio-economic status has made us particularly vulnerable to gambling problems.

Right here in Rotorua, there is a powerful lobby group in existence led by Maureen Waaka, a district councillor for the Rotorua District Council.

That group has successfully lobbied against Ngati Whakaue developing a casino on their lands, and has worked to try to halt the large number of gaming machines in popular entertainment and eating outlets, as well as their deliberate and calculated placement in suburban dairies and next to money machines. Just in Rotorua City alone, there are now gaming machines in 90% of suburban shopping centres.

Dr Lorna Dyall has referred to the issue of problem gambling as an environmental hazard due to the placement of gaming machines in areas that are predominantly decile one on the deprivation scale.

Gaming machines are in fact, five times more likely to be concentrated in the two most deprived deciles; along with 50% of TAB outlets – and you don’t need a degree to know who lives in these communities!

For Maori the figures are particularly grim, with one in three problem gamblers likely to identify as tangata whenua.

In fact, the situation is so serious, that for a Government which has run scared from identifying ethnicity in fear that National will accuse it of being race-based; they have actually taken the steps of naming the target groups in this area.

The Ministry of Health Problem Gambling Research Programme therefore refers to Maori and Pacific peoples. For instance, it refers to the need to support studies to add to existing knowledge of protective factors and resilience, and the factors that influence these including in Maori and Pacific populations.

What is more, there is a

- Maori Gambling Helpline operating, as well as the Vai Lelei Pasifika Gambling Helpline;

- there is a choice of Maori or Pasifika counsellors available at the Problem Gambling Foundation New Zealand; and there are even specific trusts such as Whakawhanaungatanga Trust which provide problem gambling support services in South Auckland to specifically target services for Maori and Pasifika peoples.

And then of course there is Te Herenga Waka o te Ora Whanau who are providing leadership in reducing gambling related harm amongst Maori.

And there is the national Pacific Gambling services; Niu development; Problem Gambling Community gambling co-ordinators; problem gambling specialists in Tupu Services, Pacificare Trust, Niu Mindworks, Pacific Peoples Addiction Services; Pacific Islands Mental Health Services; Waipareira Trust; Pacific Health Services and many more that may not be represented at this Pacific fono but are still doing the mahi amongst your communities.

The question I would ask then is, if there are some services set up; some strategies in place – why is it then, that the only winners continue to be the machines?

Maybe it is still about the lucky numbers.

I can’t pretend at being much of a statistician, but as a new politician, I have quickly learnt the importance of counting. Let’s try a few for size:

- We know that a least a third of Maori inmates have been identified as having gambling related problems.

- Pasifika populations have been identified as being six times more at risk than Pakeha for developing problem gambling behaviour;

- We know also that on average, ten to seventeen people are affected by the problem of one person;

- Maori make up 30% of new callers to the Gambling Helpline; and Pacific peoples 8%; way over the proportional representation;

- And finally in dollar terms - $35 million is gambled EVERY DAY in Aotearoa; $5.5 million is lost every day – which, in 2003/04, meant a total gambling expenditure of $2.039 billion dollars; a phenomenal $2 billion dollars of gambling debt on the heads of whanau.

So who is responsible for this community crisis?

Dr Lorna Dyall argues that the Government is walking a tightrope of conflict of interest in its competing roles as a supplier, legislator, regulator and beneficiary of gambling profits.

That being the case, we are surely duty bound as a nation, to ensure that there is sufficient investment from the Government to deliver services to reduce Maori and Pasifika gambling related harm.

We must intervene to ensure that in the absence of sufficient health services, that those people committing gambling-related crimes receive diversionary sentences and be referred to addiction services rather than be slammed in jail with a stiff sentence.

We must do all that we can to ensure the gambling levy is applied to such a goal; that a monitoring framework is set in place; that resources are invested in developing workforce capability to reduce the harm.

We must demand that the Gambling Commission is reminded of the urgent need to set the levy at an appropriate level to cover fully the costs of gambling on the health and well-being of Maori and Pasifika peoples.

Currently we have a brown hood scenario – taking from the poor to support the interests of the middle class.

But above all else, we must all of us work together with our whanau and our aiga, across our communities, to combat the impacts of gambling in Aotearoa.

You know, I have been thinking how many of our elders used to while away the hours, playing cards or playing the housie boards. I remember the tradition of our aunties skilfully managing up to ten boards while you struggle on your pitiful solitary board – and even then they lean over and help you out.

It was a collective effort, caring for each other, working together.

That is what we must draw on now – our sense of whanaungatanga.

We must work together to develop our tightest trench strategy – to:

- Talk with all our whanau who need to, to seek help (knowing that only 15% of those with problems associated with gambling do so);

- To call for communities to hold the right to decide whether gambling venues should exist in their vicinities, particularly pokie machines;

- To demand that we are entitled to a fair share of the profits that the gambling industries receive from our losses – to help us to do something about it.

And why should we embark on this war of words?

For our children’s sake; for our mokopuna’s sake; for the sake of our future.

Their health and wellbeing must be at the heart of our efforts so that we can ensure this crisis of gambling related harm is not another addiction to pass down the generations.

We must focus on our talents and our techniques – our stars – our incredible successes as peoples of the Pacific.

It is no co-incidence that of the six performers who have made it to the final nights for New Zealand Idol over the last three years; that all but one has been of Pasifika or Maori descent.

Let us add another character to the bro-town line-up; to celebrate our potential for success as peoples who are known to be brave, bold, brown and beautiful.

Let us apply all the power and skill that Valerie Vili gives to her shot; the brute strength of Jerry Collins; the tricky techniques of Tana Umaga; and the mental fight of world karate champion Penita Davies to drive our strategy to success.

We are the proud and passionate peoples of the Pacific and we must not let this baggage be foisted upon us and distract us from our opportunities to be brilliant.

That is the challenge I leave with this hui.

Tahi, rua, e toru roimata
Wha, rima e ono roimata
ka whitu, ka waru ka iwa roimata
Kei whea ra mama
Kei whea ra mama
Kua haere ke ki te whare o Mea
Noho atu ana a waenganui po
Tangi ana, tangi ana nga pepe
ki te mahi, ki te mahi, a Mama
Tahi, rua, e toru roimata
Wha, rima e ono roimata
ka whitu, ka waru ka iwa roimata
Kei whea ra mama
Kei whea ra mama
Whakarongo ki te tangi a te heihei
Tiro ki nga raiti o te whare o Mea
"He taimana!" te karanga a te kaiwhiu
Pau ana nga moni a mama!

ENDS

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