Auckland has seen a significant increase in methamphetamine supply since around 2013, with wholesale prices dropping steadily-an indicator of wider international trafficking trends.
Sales are becoming more open: from street networks to pubs and parks, now involving more organised criminal networks, including gang involvement. Its no surprise that more mahi / work is being done in places like South Auckland, where a hui was being held at Nga Whare Waatea and hosted by the Manukau Urban Maori Authority (MUMA). According to the 2019/20 Health Survey, while 1.1% of the adult population used amphetamines, the rate among Māori adults was 2.7%, nearly triple that of non-Māori. Māori also showed the highest percentages of daily/near-daily use, indicating deeper involvement in production and addiction cycles. Auckland as an Active “Hotspot” and all you need do is look at wastewater testing. Wastewater and air-quality testing in Auckland detect meth metabolites -even in downtown air samples. While airborne levels aren’t directly harmful, they are higher than many global cities, reflecting significant local usage.
Chronic meth use is linked to severe health outcomes-psychosis, stroke, heart issues, dental decay, anxiety, depression, and suicide-disproportionately affecting Māori as a group.
Traditional treatment-that relies on abstinence-is failing many users. Experts argue for culturally-informed, harm-reduction approaches, including stimulant substitution therapy. Of course there are a number of Māori-Led Responses such as University of Auckland Research; A new Tū Whakaruruhau study is trialling culturally-responsive interventions aimed at recruiting 50% Māori participants to explore bespoke care models; and there is Te Ara Oranga (Northland); A successful police-health partnership in Kaikohe offers holistic, community-rooted meth recovery; with peer mentorship, cultural support, and wraparound services. That’s where this new initiative comes into play – ROCC – Resilience to Organised Crime in Communities (ROCC) is a cross-agency work programme which complements the Transnational Organised Crime (TNOC) Strategy, delivering an end-to-end strategic response to organised crime. ROCC combats domestic organised crime by combining social and economic intervention with targeted enforcement action to build local community resilience.
That was an increase from 732kgs in 2023 to 1434kgs in 2024.
Professor Chris Wilkins is the leader of the drug research team at the College of Health, Massey University and told RNZ that “Something pretty major happened, and it happened in a very short timeframe,” he said.
The devastating reach of methamphetamine – commonly known as “P” – is being felt deeply in Māori communities across Aotearoa, with whānau bearing the brunt of the drug’s corrosive effects on mental health, relationships, and wellbeing.
Social workers, health professionals, and community leaders are sounding the alarm as meth-related harm increases, particularly among young Māori and in lower-income urban centres like South Auckland.
Whānau in Crisis
“It doesn’t just destroy the person using it – it tears through entire whānau,” says Mereana Raukura, a kaumātua and addiction support worker in Manurewa. “We’re seeing more mokopuna raised by grandparents, tamariki neglected or in state care, and parents trapped in cycles of trauma, addiction, and poverty.”
Children of users often experience instability, emotional neglect, and in some cases, exposure to drug-fuelled violence. Oranga Tamariki reports that meth use was a factor in nearly 30% of child protection cases involving Māori families last year.
In one case, a young solo mother from Māngere was hospitalised after suffering meth-induced psychosis while her three children were at home alone. The whānau has since been placed under the care of extended relatives, but the scars remain.
Cultural Disconnect and Generational Trauma
Many whānau affected by meth are also dealing with intergenerational trauma from colonisation, systemic racism, and disconnection from whenua and whakapapa. Experts warn that criminalising users without addressing root causes only pushes people further from help.
Dr Rawiri Paratene, a Māori clinical psychologist, says meth thrives in environments of pain and disconnection.
“We’ve got to stop seeing this as a criminal problem and start seeing it as a wairua problem,” he says. “People use meth to numb what they haven’t been supported to heal.”
Some communities are taking action. Programmes like Te Ara Oranga in Northland and community-led wananga in South Auckland offer holistic support based on kaupapa Māori values – combining peer support, cultural reconnection, and wraparound health and housing services.
“We’re showing that when people feel safe, seen, and supported in a Māori way, they can recover,” says Marama Nuku of a South Auckland whānau recovery initiative. “But we need more resourcing and long-term government commitment.”
Advocacy groups including the NZ Drug Foundation are calling for a national meth harm reduction strategy grounded in Māori leadership. This includes:
- Culturally-appropriate detox and rehab centres
- Whānau-based intervention models
- Decriminalisation of drug use for personal possession
- Investment in education, housing, and trauma recovery
The impact of methamphetamine on whānau is one of the most pressing health and social issues facing Māori today. As the crisis deepens, the call for mana motuhake in addiction response grows louder.
“We don’t need more punishment,” says Mereana Raukura. “We need aroha, rangatiratanga, and real solutions for our whānau.”
If you or someone you know needs help with addiction, contact the Alcohol and Drug Helpline at 0800 787 797.
