5042 (2025). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister for Mental Health

5042 (2025). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister for Mental Health: What progress, if any, has been made in the quarter July to September 2024 on the action area ‘Design and deliver quality gambling-harm minimisation services and supports’ under ‘Objective 1: Create a full spectrum of services and supports’ within the Ministry of Health’s Strategy to Prevent and Minimise Gambling Harm 2022/23 to 2024/25?

Hon Matt Doocey: I am advised during the July to September 2024 quarter, Health New Zealand continued to work with three national providers and 19 Māori-specific regional providers of public health and clinical intervention services to ensure that the range of gambling harm minimisation services established in January 2024 were being delivered in line with contractual expectations. This included identifying service delivery issues and barriers, with action taken to address them. I am further advised that development continued of new digital supports and tools to increase access to gambling harm support, and that Health NZ supported the Ministry of Health with the development and consultation on the draft Strategy to Prevent and Minimise Gambling Harm 2025/26 to 2027/28.