Iwi leaders of New Zealand’s Māori tribes and communities have threatened to take legal action against the government’s plans to launch a new gambling regime by 2026.
The challenge is led by the Māori advocacy group Pou Tangata, who have called on the NZ government to abandon its plans to auction 15 online casino licences.
Authorised at the close of 2024, the auction of online casino licences is viewed as a necessary measure for New Zealand to liberalise its online gambling marketplace. However, the government is yet to finalise the auction process and set a timeline for 2026.
Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden has been tasked with leading the overhaul of the Gambling Act 2003. The Minister has stated that her objectives are to establish the terms of a fair and regulated online gambling marketplace, protecting NZ consumers from gambling harms and addiction.
Governmental challenge
The Gambling Act 2003, which grants monopoly privileges to TAB NZ and Lotto NZ, is viewed as ineffective due to the high engagement of national consumers wagering on unregulated websites.
However, the National Iwi Chairs Forum (NICF) has challenged the government, for providing no consideration of Māori communities, in the planning of gambling reforms.
The challenge was initiated by Pou Tangata, an Iwi advocacy organisation, which demanded that the New Zealand government halt its plans. As the most influential Māori advocacy organisation, Pou Tangata has been the main force behind the fight against the reforms.
Rāhui Papa, the chair of the group, has rejected the government’s strategy, arguing that the liberalisation of online gambling is being implemented without adequate Māori input and consideration of social consequences.
The proposed changes, according to Iwi leaders, are set to primarily benefit offshore operators and overlook the potential for rising gambling addiction in New Zealand. Māori communities face social and economic difficulties, making them especially vulnerable to the risks associated with increased gambling accessibility.
The main concern of Māori leaders is the threat to rangatahi because online gambling is easy to access and not as regulated as traditional forms of gambling. The NZCER 2024 Youth Gambling Review pointed out that Māori youth typically engage in their first risky behaviour through gambling. Leaders are concerned that increased online gambling accessibility will lead more rangatahi towards addiction patterns, negatively affecting their education and well-being.
Māori communities are also concerned about losing community funding. Currently, domestic gambling operations like TAB and Lotto reinvest their profits into local initiatives. The new licensing system will primarily benefit offshore companies, and since they are not required to fund community projects, essential services and local development initiatives are at risk of receiving reduced funding.
Māori leaders maintain that the government’s strategy violates Te Tiriti o Waitangi (Treaty of Waitangi). The treaty contains provisions for safeguarding Māori interests, and the proposed changes are regarded as incompatible with these provisions. Pou Tangata has demanded an immediate halt to the auction process and called for a thorough legal analysis that would consider Treaty obligations.
Iwi leaders have stated their intention to seek legal remedies if the government ignores their demands and proceeds with its plans. This stance reflects a broader issue concerning the lack of consultation and the social impact on Māori communities.
