To combat substance abuse

Tu Tangata, Issue 35, 1 April 1987, Page 18

To combat substance abuse

In September 1985, at the Winter School on Alcohol Studies, a group of Maori workers in the field of alcohol and substance abuse met to discuss the needs of Maori people. They were concerned that alcohol counsellor training and alcohol treatment services did not adequately meet or address Maori needs. This lack of cultural sensitivity was seen to exist throughout the whole of the alcohol and substance abuse social services. A meeting was called and the Maori Co-ordinator of the Alcoholic Liquor Advisory Council was invited to attend and present his views and advice. The issues discussed at the meeting ranged from the need to establish a national co-ordinating body and the need for a resource unit, to the establishment of training courses for counsellors (Maori) in the field of alcohol and substance abuse.

It was agreed to hold a national hui in Auckland, co-ordinated and hosted by those from Auckland, and that group went on to form a duly constituted incorporated society under the name of Te Ara Hou. Another group, based in Christchurch, went on to form Te Rito Arahi. The national hui was convened in October, 1985, and in line with recommendations made by the Maori Co-ordinator of the Alcoholic Liquor Advisory Council, the hui was funded by the Council. Held from the 16th to the 18th October, the hui was attended by approximately 65 people from the following organisations: Department of Social Welfare, Presbyterian Support Services, Hospital Boards, Department of Health, Salvation Army, Matua Whangai and the Justice Department.