Gambling Harm Awareness Week

The theme of this year's Gambling Harm Awareness week (3 - 9 September ) is "Take time out from gambling, put time into whānau."

Take time out of gambling and put time into whānau

 

On this page

  1. Free family events near you
  2. Get involved on Facebook
  3. Download the Gambling Harm Awareness Week Toolkit
  4. About Gambling Harm Awareness Week
  5. Pause the Pokies

 

Free family-friendly events near you:

Where When Place Event name Brought to you by
Auckland Sat 13 Oct, 10am - 2pm Otahuhu Town Hall, 10-16 High St Say Yes to Fāmili, Say No to Gambling Mapu Maia
National 3 to 9 September Selected locations throughout New Zealand Pause the Pokies  Problem Gambling Foundation of New Zealand
Auckland Sat 1 Sept 5pm - 8pm Avondale Community Centre 99 Rosebank Road Avondale Feed the streets Salvation Army Oasis
Auckland Mon 3 Sept 11am - 3pm Te Wharekura o Manurewa, 81 Finlayson Avenue, Clendon Park Reconnect Series Hāpai Te Hauora Tapui
Auckland Tues 4 Sept 10am - 12pm Papakura High School, Willis Rd, Papakura Tāne Mahuta Project Hāpai Te Hauora Tapui
Auckland Wed 5 Sept 11am - 3pm Massey High School, 274 Don Buck Road, Massey Reconnect Series Hāpai Te Hauora Tapui
Auckland Tue 4 Sept 10am - 1pm Ōtara Library, 46 Fair Mall, Ōtara, Manukau "Ka Ching" Movie Screening Problem Gambling Foundation
Auckland Thu 6 Sept 10am - 3pm Ōtara Library, 46 Fair Mall, Ōtara, Manukau Cook Island Cultural Arts Displays Problem Gambling Foundation
Auckland Thu 6 Sept 10am - 2pm Mangere Town Centre, 93 Bader Dr Family Fun Day Southseas Healthcare Trust
Auckland Fri 7 Sept 11am - 1pm Takapuna Library, 9 The Strand, Takapuna "Ka Ching" Movie Screening Problem Gambling Foundation
Auckland Sat 8 Sept 10am - 2pm Mt Eden War Memorial, 489 Dominion Rd, Mount Eden Exploring the Asian Culture Asian Family Services
Hamilton Mon to Wed, 3-5 Sept, 11am - 1pm Chartwell Shopping Centre, 201 Hukanui Rd Community Outreach Salvation Army Oasis
Hamilton Thu to Fri, 6-7 Sept, 11am - 1pm Hamilton City Library, 9 Garden Pl Community Outreach Salvation Army Oasis
Bay of Plenty Wed 26 Sept 3pm - 6pm Maketu Seaside Park. (Or if wet: Maketu Health and Social Services Hauora Building, Te Puke 3 Little Waihi Road The World is your Oyster - Career Expo Maketu Health and Social Services
Whanganui 3-9 September Ngā Tai o Te Awa Facebook Page Awesome tips for putting time into whānau Ngā Tai o Te Awa
Masterton Tues 4 Sept 10am - 12:30pm Masterton Medical Centre Gambling Harm Awareness Day The Salvation Army Oasis
Masterton Tues 4 Sept 1pm - 4pm Whairoa Medical Centre, 394 Queen St Gambling Harm Awareness Day The Salvation Army Oasis
Masterton Thu 6 Sept 10am - 2pm Food Bank Gambling Harm Awareness Day The Salvation Army Oasis
Carterton Wed 5 Sept 10am - 12:30pm Carterton Medical Centre, 163/159 High St Gambling Harm Awareness Day The Salvation Army Oasis
Greytown Wed 5 Sept 1pm - 4pm Greytown Medical Centre, 186 East St Gambling Harm Awareness Day The Salvation Army Oasis
Wellington Tue 4 Sept 11am - 2pm Salvation Army Newtown Centre, 4 Normanby st, Newtown Creative Whānau - Art Workshop Te Taeaomanino Trust, Ora Toa Mauri Ora, Problem Gambling Foundation, and Salvation Army Oasis
Wellington Thu 6 Sept 11am - 2pm Salvation Army Newtown Centre, 4 Normanby st, Newtown Creative Whānau - Fashion Parade Te Taeaomanino Trust, Ora Toa Mauri Ora, Problem Gambling Foundation, and Salvation Army Oasis
Wellington Sat 8 Sept 12pm to 2pm Walter Nash Park, Basketball Courts, Reynold Street & Tocker Street, Taita Streetball with Kenny McFadden Te Taeaomanino Trust and Salvation Army Oasis
Nelson

Mon 3 Sept 8:30am - 9:30am & 1:30pm - 3:30pm

OR Tues 4 Sept 1:30pm - 3:30pm

Victory Community Centre, 2 Totara St, Nelson South Gambling Harm Awareness Day Addiction Advice and Assessment Services
Nelson Wed 5 Sept 10am - 2pm Nelson Library, 27 Halifax St Gambling Harm Awareness Day Addiction Advice and Assessment Services
Nelson Thu 6 Sept 10am - 2pm Nelson New World Supermarket, 73 Vanguard St Gambling Harm Awareness Day Addiction Advice and Assessment Services
Nelson

Tue 11 Sept 9:30am - 1:30pm

Wed 12 Sept 9:30am - 1:30pm

Richmond Mall, Cnr Queen Croucher and Talbot streets Gambling Harm Awareness Day Addiction Advice and Assessment Services
Nelson Thu 13 Sept 10am - 2pm Nelson New World Supermarket, 73 Vanguard St Gambling Harm Awareness Day Addiction Advice and Assessment Services
Nelson Wed 19 Sept 12pm - 1pm SANITI, NMIT, 322 Hardy St Gambling Harm Awareness Day Addiction Advice and Assessment Services
Christchurch Tue 4 Sept 12:30pm - 1:30pm Dance-o-mat, 129 Gloucester St Lunch Time Rave Problem Gambling Foundation, Salvation Army Oasis and Mapu Maia
Christchurch Wed 5 Sept 3:30pm - 4:30pm Grass Games between Gloucester St and Worcester St Free Kai and Events Problem Gambling Foundation, Salvation Army Oasis and Mapu Maia
Christchurch Thu 6 Sept 6:30pm Hoyts Northland, 55 Main North Road, Papanui Free Movie Night - Mama Mia 2 (PG) Problem Gambling Foundation and Salvation Army Oasis
Christchurch Fri 7 Sept 4pm Hoyts Riccarton Rotherham St, Riccarton Free Movie Night - Luis and the Aliens (PG) Problem Gambling Foundation and Salvation Army Oasis
Christchurch Sat 8 Sept 10:30am - 4pm Eskinita-Filipino market, The Commons, 70 Kilmore Street Free Kai and Events Problem Gambling Foundation, Salvation Army Oasis and Mapu Maia
Dunedin Thu 6 Sept 11am - 3pm Otago University Union, 640 Cumberland Street North Pause for Whānau Event The Salvation Army Oasis
Dunedin Mon to Fri, 3-7 Sept from 9am - 5pm Salvation Army Reception Area, 160 Crawford St Pause for Whānau Event The Salvation Army Oasis
Dunedin Mon to Fri, 3-7 Sept from 9am - 5pm Salvation Army Family Store, 557 Princes St Pause for Whānau Event The Salvation Army Oasis
Dunedin Mon to Fri, 3-7 Sept from 9am - 5pm Dunedin Public Library, 230 Moray Pl Pause for Whānau Event The Salvation Army Oasis
Milton Mon to Fri, 3-7 Sept from 9am - 5pm Salvation Army Family Store, 112 Union St Pause for Whānau Event The Salvation Army Oasis
Balclutha Mon to Fri, 3-7 Sept from 9am - 5pm Salvation Army Family Store, 44 Clyde St Pause for Whānau Event The Salvation Army Oasis

Get involved on Facebook

Did you know that spending time with loved ones can help beat gambling harm? Whether it's going for a walk, sharing kai or exploring somewhere new, family members can make a huge difference.

Go to the Choice Not Chance Facebook page to find suggestions for fun family activities. You can also share your own whānau time experiences through comments and photos.

 

Download the Gambling Harm Awareness Week Toolkit

Get key messages, Facebook promo tips, social media images, email signatures templates, event ideas, and more digital goodies!

Toolkit

 

About Gambling Harm Awareness Week

It's likely that 186,000 Kiwis are experiencing a level of gambling-related harm, but even so, it's often hidden from view.

These local events, combined with the Choice Not Chance Facebook promotion, are part of a national effort to:

  1. Raise awareness of gambling harm in Aotearoa
     
  2. Provide positive ways for people to take time out from gambling and put time into whānau, family, aiga and fāmili

Evidence shows that spending time with a loved one and sharing rewarding activities together (like fishing or sharing kai) is a practical way to beat gambling harm.

Gambling can start out as fun, but there is a point for everyone where it can become ‘unfun’. Gambling harm can escalate quickly, damaging relationships, whānau, finances and hopes for the future.

Now's a good time to take the quiz to see whether your gambling is still just for fun.

Look out for the early signs of gambling harm. These include ‘trying to win back your losses’, ‘hiding gambling from others’, or ‘feeling guilty about gambling’.

If your gambling is starting to become unfun, there are heaps of ways to get help. The Gambling Helpline team can be contacted for free anytime 24/7.

There are also FREE face-to-face help and support services available in your local community.
 

Pause the pokies

The Problem Gambling Foundation, Mapu Maia and Asian Family Services are running an initiative called Pause the Pokies.

This initative invites a venue to turn off its pokie machines for one hour during Gambling Harm Awareness Week.

Pause the Pokies gives venues an opportunity to stand in solidarity with individuals, families and the community and provides a platform to raise publicity around the issue of gambling harm. It is hoped that this small interuption will cause gamblers to pause, reflect and seek assistance from a local face-to-face support services.

For information on how to get involved go to www.pgf.nz/pause-the-pokies.html