| Pacific people are an important part of the New Zealand society with nearly two-thirds of those resident in NZ living in Auckland. There were 265,974 people of Pacific ethnicity living in New Zealand at the time of the 2006 Census – an increase of 15 percent since the 2001 Census. Samoans make up the largest proportion (49%); Cook Island Maori (22%); Tongans (19%); Niueans (8 %); Fijians (4%); Tokelauans (3%); and Tuvaluans (1%).
Research shows that of all population groups in New Zealand, Pacific people are the most at risk of developing gambling problems (six times more than Europeans) making up 14% of current pathological and problem gamblers. A breakdown of ethnicity of Pacific Island gamblers was: 45% Samoan, 18% Cook Island Maori, 20% Tongan, 3% Fijian and 14% other Pacific peoples.
Traditionally, Pacific Island people find it difficult to share problems which may be seen as bringing shame on a family or community. They often try to fix the problem on their own and continue to gamble which sadly can lead to greater harm for both themselves and their families.
For some Pacific people there is a belief that there is a generosity involved in gambling and that all the money put into the machine is returned through payouts. Therefore, gamblers often search for formulas for when they think is the best time to gamble, such as ‘when the machines are full’ or ‘after midnight on a Sunday night’. There is also a belief that the machines are controllable, fair, reciprocal (give and take), and generous.
Cook Island women had the highest number of those who gambled among Pacific peoples.
A 2005 study found that Samoan people often gamble:
- because of financial stress when not working and the need for money to fulfil cultural obligations;
- introduced to gambling by their families when discussing their winnings;
- TV advertisements making gambling glamorous (e.g. Lotto, Big Wednesday), and sandwich boards identifying availability of venues
The same study found that Tongan youth gambled for the enjoyment; Tongan adults saw gambling as a way to make money, plus they have a high expectation of winning, with Tongan women developing gambling problems faster than men.
The Niuean focus group felt that:
- those not working tended to gamble with their benefits and that employment was one answer to prevent problem gambling.
- often gambling can be hidden until things become very bad, especially when one person controls the finances.
- they gambled because they were not satisfied with their lives and that others around them also gambled.
However, all groups agreed that the easy access to pokies in pubs and gambling venues particularly in the concentrated lower socio-economic areas, contributed to developing problem gambling, where many of the dollars they suck in come from welfare payments, and target problem gamblers who cannot afford to play the machines. Furthermore, advertising about Lotto, the casino and the TAB on TV, radio, newspapers and the Internet were attractive and normalized gambling and the chance in winning.
Sources of information on the effect of gambling on Pasifika include
Guttenbeil-Po’uhila, Y. (2004). Tongan Gambling. Retrieved from www.arphs.govt.nz/publications/TonganGambling/Tongan_Gambling.pdf
Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs (1999). Pacific Vision Conference Report. Auckland, New Zealand: Author
Ministry of Health (2008). Problem gambling intervention services in New Zealand. 2007 service-user statistics. Wellington: MOH
Niumata, M. and Perese, L. (2000). The impact of gambling on some Samoan peoples lives in Auckland. [Report]
Samson, T. (2005). Why people gamble. Auckland: Uniservices |
