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October 01, 2025
The Hidden Harm: Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and Māori Communities
Dale Husband
Posted On October 1, 2025
Download AudioHe has long been an advocate to recognise alcohol harm and has fiercely criticised the ministry’s Fetal Harm Advisory efforts for sidelining Māori voices and allowing alcohol industry influence, prompting calls for reform and the removal of his gifted whakataukī from its action plan.
Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is one of the most common yet least understood neurodevelopmental conditions in Aotearoa. It occurs when a baby is exposed to alcohol in the womb, leading to permanent brain-based disabilities that affect learning, memory, emotional regulation, and behaviour. Despite its widespread impact, FASD often remains undiagnosed, mislabelled as behavioural issues, ADHD, or autism spectrum disorder. For Māori communities, the effects are being felt deeply, intersecting with wider health, justice, and social inequities.
Research suggests that thousands of tamariki across Aotearoa may be living with FASD, with Māori disproportionately represented. This is not because Māori wāhine drink more during pregnancy-rates of alcohol consumption in pregnancy are consistent across populations-but because Māori are more likely to experience structural inequities, including poverty, inadequate access to culturally safe healthcare, and the intergenerational trauma that heightens vulnerability to alcohol harm.
For tamariki Māori with FASD, daily life can be a struggle. Many experience difficulties with impulse control, social interactions, and academic achievement. Without proper diagnosis and support, whānau often feel isolated and blamed for their child’s behaviour, compounding stress and whakamā (shame). For mothers, the stigma is particularly harsh, with little recognition of the broader social and health determinants that contribute to alcohol use during pregnancy.
Māori rangatahi with undiagnosed FASD are at greater risk of ending up in the justice or care system. Studies show that young people with FASD are more likely to come into contact with police, courts, and Oranga Tamariki due to misunderstood behaviours, impulsivity, and difficulties following rules. Advocates argue that many Māori youth labelled as “troubled” or “defiant” may in fact be living with undiagnosed FASD.
Experts and whānau leaders stress the need for kaupapa Māori approaches to FASD. This includes:
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Awareness and education campaigns led by iwi and hapū, focusing on prevention and support without stigma.
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Whānau-centred health services that provide early diagnosis, wraparound support, and culturally safe care.
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Training for teachers, social workers, and police to understand and respond to FASD behaviours with compassion rather than punishment.
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Investment in Māori research and voices to guide solutions that reflect the realities of whānau.
For Māori, tackling FASD is not just about reducing alcohol harm-it is about restoring mana motuhake and giving tamariki the best chance to thrive. By addressing systemic inequities, supporting wāhine hapū (pregnant women), and ensuring tamariki with FASD are embraced rather than stigmatised, Aotearoa can begin to break the cycle.
As one Māori advocate for FASD awareness put it: “Our tamariki are not broken, they are born into systems that fail to see them. With aroha, understanding, and the right support, they can flourish.”
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