March 21, 2024
Wastewater tests show low alcohol use in Māori communties
Analysis of watewater has called into question assumptions about Māori and Pasifika being big drinkers.
University of Auckland doctoral student Miriama Wilson was part of a study which took wastewater monitoring techniques used to assess Covid-19 and drug use, and applied them to alcohol.
Ten regions from Auckland to Dunedin were analysed, with the lowest overall consumption of alcohol being South Auckland with its high Māori and Pasifika populations.
“That really disproves unfair and prejudicial stereotypes… and so I really hope that New Zealanders can overcome their stereotypes that Māori and Pasifika are big drinkers – because clearly we’ve shown that they’re not,” Ms Wilson says.
She says alcohol is the country’s most harmful drug.