May 30, 2022
Tikanga effective in tackling addiction
A controversial drug rehabilitation programme for Mongrel Mob tane is proving phenomenally successful.
Co-director Mahinaarangi Tuhi-Smith launched the tikanga based Kahukura programme with her husband, Notorious chapter president Sonny Smith, a year ago on Te Tapairu Marae in central Hawke’s Bay after eight drug-related suicides by gang members.
It came under fire from National party police spokesperson Simeon Brown, but Ms Tuhi-Smith says a new approach is needed to address the inter-generational trauma associated with gang life.
She says a third of the men are fully off methamphetamine, a third are at minimal risk and the rest still need a lot of work – which is the reality of addiction.
“I see the success like, how are you getting on with your family? How are you getting your kids to school? Are you having family days” Are you working? Are you looking at education? Those are the things that are standing out, as opposed to just methamphetamine. There are other things that are arising for them that are really positive and they are really positive for their children,” Ms Tuhi-Smith says.
Kahukura has just taken in its sixth cohort of 10 tāne.