Strategic Plans - Strategic Direction

Problem Gambling in New Zealand
Strategic Direction - Strategic Plans

Preventing and Minimising Gambling Harm; Strategic Plan 2004 – 2010
The Ministry’s first strategic plan around problem gambling was published in 2005. The Strategic Plan for Preventing and Minimising Gambling Harm: 2004–2010 provides a high-level framework to guide the development and implementation of an integrated approach to prevent and minimise gambling-related harm.

The strategic plan provides a high level framework for preventing gambling harm.
It covers the initial transition from the Problem Gambling Committee (PGC) to the Ministry of Health and builds on this work, outlining the way in which the Ministry of Health will address the continuum of gambling harm. It includes primary prevention and population approaches, through to more selected intervention services for individuals, their families and significant others.

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The plan acknowledges that research is a critical component of any strategic approach, because it provides an evidence base from which to inform workforce and provider development, as well as policy, funding and service development at national and regional levels.

Research and evaluation, contract monitoring, and ongoing dialogue with service providers, government agencies, local authorities, the gambling industry and the wider community will provide a comprehensive information and knowledge base which will contribute to a longer-term strategy to prevent and minimise the harm caused by gambling.

Preventing and Minimising Gambling Harm: Strategic Plan 2004-2010

Preventing and Minimising Gambling Harm; Three-year Service Plan 2007 – 2010
The Ministry is required by the Gambling Act to undertake a needs assessment every three years. Each needs assessment informs the development of a three-year problem gambling service plan.

The current service plan runs from 2007 - 2010 and helps to translate the high-level 2004 – 2010 strategy document into actions at local, regional and national levels.

This service plan sets out the Ministry’s funding principles with regard to problem gambling and details the budget allocation, broken down by public health, intervention service and research areas.

The strategic plan and service plan are key documents in the Ministry’s approach to preventing and minimising gambling harm.

Preventing and Minimising Gambling Harm Three-year service plan 2007–2010

Preventing and Minimising Gambling Harm; 2010 – 2016
The Ministry is currently preparing for the next problem gambling levy setting process. The majority of this work will take place during 2009, and will include the development of a new six-year strategy and three-year service plan. Both of these documents will be informed by a needs assessment, to be completed in early 2009.

The Ministry held discussions with key stakeholders around the upcoming levy round in July 2008, to ensure that expectations around the Ministry’s processes and plans for consultation are transparent and endorsed by those in the gambling and problem gambling sectors.

Consultation on the needs assessment, strategy, funding plan and levy calculations will take place in the second half of 2009. Information on this consultation process will be posted on the problem gambling page of the Ministry’s website once finalised.