Our communities are stronger when we all work together to improve health outcomes. Gambling harm is something that affects many Māori and Pacific whānau, and strong communities are part of the solution. Brooke Stilwell is a third year Bachelor of Health Sciences student, who has been involved as a student intern at Hāpai Te Hauroa. She has designed a multi-level project to involve her local community for Gamble Harm Awareness Week.

The project includes participants from Te Atatu Intermediate School (students, teachers and the Deputy principle) and their family members, who are all working together to create a pou (traditional Maori pillar) that will entail their thoughts, opinions and aspirations surrounding gambling harm within the Te Atatu Peninsula community, along with ideas about how their community can improve this issue.

The final project will be on display at the Mangere Whānau Fun Day (Thursday 7th September), along with a blank pou for the people of Mangere to share their own whakaaro in relation to gamble harm in their community.

On conclusion of Gamble Harm Awareness Week, the pou will be donated to the Henderson-Massey local board as a symbol of connectivity between the citizens and leaders of the community. Brooke hopes that this will also inspire a positive relationship between members of her community and decision-makers, for the future development of the community.

Leilani Tamu is a mother, writer, poet, diplomat, and champion for her community. The daughter of New Zealand Rugby League Player, Bill Burgoyne, Leilani uses her experiences growing up in a whānau affected by gambling addiction, to advocate for a fairer, more compassionate, and more inclusive Aotearoa.

Leilani has written frankly about her experience, growing up with a father who suffered from severe gambling addiction, click here to read. She hopes that by speaking out about this issue, she can challenge the idea that gambling is a personal failing, or character flaw, and remind us that gambling addiction is a health issue, that needs to be treated as such. She hopes that by changing attitudes and assumptions about gambling addiction, we can focus on creating strong and supportive communities, and ensuring that those affected by problem gambling get the support that they need to be well.