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September 15, 2022
Whānau talk better than failed drug rehab model
Tuwhenuaroa Natanahira
Posted On September 15, 2022
Download AudioA Gisborne-based community worker says methamphetamine addicts are increasingly looking for whanau and hapu-led initiatives for help.
Tuta Ngārimu from anti-drug rōpu New Zealand ‘P’ Pull says for 20 years the model has been clinical services which haven’t worked – especially not for Maori.
Millions of dollars have been poured into high profile residential rehabilitation programmes with a success rate of around 6 percent.
“Whanau are coming forward to our support groups and recovery groups here in Gisborne and they are part of a group of similar whanau who are in that recovery stage and talking and working with each other every day. That’s what I’m seeing here in Gisborne so that’s the whanau-led, hapu-led initiative I’m talking about,” he says.
Mr Ngarimu says the Maori version of residential rehabilitation is more like the right-week wananga he runs on marae up the East Coast where whanau do a lot of purakau, mahi atua and other healing exercises.
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