Arts & Social Sciences
Te Kura Kete Aronui

Abstract

Morrison, L. (2000). The good and the bad times: Māori women's experiences of gambling.

Māori women's experiences of gambling were explored in this study. Much of the literature about gambling focuses on gambling activity as pathological and as an addiction to be recovered from. In this study I wanted to look at gambling in a different way. The study was to provide information about a) how these women came to be involved with gambling and whether there was any link between generations within whanau; b) how these women maintained their gambling activities; and c) what advice they had for those who might wish to change their gambling.

Māori women's stories of their whanau history and experiences with gambling were explored using a qualitative approach with thirty women who all resided in Rotorua at the time of the study. From open-ended interviews completed with these women, I discovered some very interesting processes. A major finding that emerged from the interviews is that for this group, gambling was very much an activity to which they had been socialised into as children. In addition, they were unconsciously socialising their own children. It was an activity that undoubtedly had negative outcomes, for example, the incurring of debts and the sale of assets to cover these debts; and sometimes violent responses from partners. However, the women also discussed positive outcomes. For example, very strong social support systems were formed that served well the transmission of whanau histories. The activity also served to raise funds for marae and sports clubs, as well as the 'kitty', which enabled that host responsibility persisted without incurring a cost. This has implications for women who wish to stop gambling in relation to how their needs can be met otherwise. It is hoped that this thesis will benefit Māori women and their whanau and Māoridom in the future.