Pokie gambling and Māori women: Friend or foe?

Gambling behaviours and health promotion strategies to address problem gambling are becoming increasingly important in Aotearoa-New Zealand, as in other parts of the world. Successful health promotion strategies are underpinned by contextual knowledge around the issue in question. This paper discusses some of the contextual factors that health promoters will need to consider when addressing strategies aimed at Māori women affected by problem gambling. The paper is a work in progress contributing to a doctoral thesis to explore Māori women's perceptions of new forms of gambling and the health implications on whanau (extended family) in Rotorua and Auckland.