A Maori public health expert says a Whanau Ora or whole of family health approach is ideal for tackling problem gambling.
Lorna Dyall from Te Kupenga Hauora Maori at Auckland University's school of population health is taking part in an international gambling conference in Auckland this week.
She says like any other addiction, gambling will destroy a whanau because the addicted person focuses only on their need.
She told Waatea News that any person with an addiction affects everyone else in their whanau.
Dr Dyall says gambling has long been a part of Maori life, but it's become much more visible because of the number of gaming machines in poor communities.
