Gambling Harm Awareness Week
Let’s talk about online gambling.
The Health New Zealand Health Promotion directorate (Health NZ Health Promotion) uses Gambling Harm Awareness Week as an opportunity to encourage kōrero about what harm is and how to avoid or minimise it. Openly saying “Let’s talk about gambling harm” creates a supportive environment for safe conversations among peers, with trusted whānau or with confidential professional assistance.
Gambling Harm Awareness Week 2026 will be held 31 August to 6 September.
GHAW 2026 – Let’s talk about online gambling harm and young people
The campaign aims to help families and whānau navigate conversations with young people that can reduce harm and stop gambling harm before it starts.
The campaign seeks to raise awareness for parents, caregivers, trusted adults, and whānau of the proliferation of gambling opportunities facing young people, increase understanding of the warning signs and equip parents/whānau to have open, informed conversations with young people about gambling, its potential impacts, and available sources of support.
Gambling and young people campaign page
The campaign page highlights what’s happening all around for young people and encourages the adults in their lives to recognise the warning signs of harm. It provides information, support and practical resources if parents/whānau choose to talk with their young people about gambling harm, as well as links to additional youth-focused resources from sector partners.
Events near you
Local events are being held around the country during Gambling Harm Awareness Week. Find an event near you.
Auckland
Gambling Harm Awareness Week Workshop
Saturday 29 August, 9am to 12pm
Presented by Mapu Maia
Ōtāhuhu Methodist Church, Auckland
For Pacific congregational members
Quiz Night: True Uso Academy
Saturday 29 August, 5pm to 8pm
Presented by Mapu Maia
Blockhouse Bay Community Hall, Auckland
For Pacific young people
Auckland Asian Hauora Day
Saturday 5 September, 11am to 3pm
Presented by Asian Family Services
New Lynn Community Centre, 45 Totara Avenue, New Lynn, Auckland
For our Asian community
Gambling Harm Awareness Week programme and activities
Saturday 24 September, 4pm to 9pm
Presented by Mapu Maia
16 Israel Avenue, Ōtara, Auckland
For Pacific intergenerational families and action group
Christchurch
Gambling Harm Awareness Week Workshop: Level Up your Awareness — Online Gambling and Young People
Monday 31 August, 5pm to 7pm
Presented by Mapu Maia
Ekalesia Faapotopotoga Kerisiano i Samoa Church, 7 Vili Place, Woolston, Christchurch
For Pacific youth group
Auckland Asian Hauora Day
Saturday 12 September, 10am to 1pm
Presented by Asian Family Services
Multicultural Recreation and Community Centre, 455 Hagley Road, Christchurch
For our Asian community
Hawke’s Bay
Disconnect to Reconnect premiere screening
Wednesday 2 September, 2pm to 4pm
Presented by Te Rangihaeata Oranga Trust
New Life Church, 100 Meeanee Road, Taradale, Napier
For Māori community
Pacific Staff Hawkes Bay
Thursday 3 September, 1.30pm to 3pm
Presented by Mapu Maia
312 At Aubyn Street, Hastings
For Pacific community
Pacific Community
Tuesday 15 September, 6pm to 8pm
Presented by Mapu Maia
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 44 Peterhead Avenue, Flaxmere, Hastings
For Pacific church community
Hamilton
Gambling Harm Awareness Week Workshop
Thursday 17 September, 4pm to 8pm
Presented by Mapu Maia
Samoan Congressional Church, 51 Greenwood Street, Frankton, Hamilton
For Samoan-speaking church community, including children, youth and older people
Help spread the word
Use these resources to support your mahi and help promote kōrero about gambling harm in your communities. The resources have a shared look and feel that you can adapt to suit your messaging, voice, and delivery in your community.
Email signature
The email signature is available to download in these languages:
GHAW 2026 Email signature — English
GHAW 2026 Email signature — Hindi
GHAW 2026 Email signature — Korean
GHAW 2026 Email signature — Samoan
GHAW 2026 Email signature — Simplified Chinese
GHAW 2026 Email signature — Tongan
Social media tiles
There are two social media tiles that you can use with your own messaging. The first includes a reference to GHAW and has dates. The second focuses on a 'spot the warning signs' call to action.
GHAW 2026 Social tile — GHAW with dates
GHAW 2026 Social tile — Spot the warning signs
Poster
The GHAW 2026 poster features the campaign gambling door image. It is available in A3 or A4 print-ready and digital versions, using either the Pacific or Māori tohu.
GHAW 2026 poster Māori logo, A4 digital
GHAW 2026 poster Pacific logo, A4 digital
GHAW 2026 poster Māori logo, A3 print
GHAW 2026 poster Pacific logo, A3 print
GHAW 2026 poster Māori logo, A4 print
GHAW 2026 poster Pacific logo, A4 print
Video
We have translated videos for five specific warning signs to Simplified Chinese, Hindi, Korean, Samoan, Tongan and Māori. You can use the video on your social platforms and use with your own messaging.
Please contact us if you would like to use any of the videos, and we will get them to you.
Email: info@safergambling.org.nz
Check back as we get closer to Gambling Harm Awareness Week. We will add further resources as they become available.
Resource pack
Each minimising gambling harm support service will receive a resource pack that includes:
- T-shirts
- Kōrero Card packs
- Safer Gambling Aotearoa branded pens.
This year, languages for the T-shirts also include Korean and Tagalog.
Related information
Check out these other pages for safer gambling support and guidance.