Alcohol and Drug Related Harm and Prevention

Alcohol and drug-related harm, viewed through the lens of Te Kura Tangata, highlights how substance abuse disrupts relationships and collective well-being. Our Whānau and are taonga and harm to one person affects the wider whānau and community. Addressing these harms requires holistic, culturally responsive approaches.

In Aotearoa, alcohol is ingrained in our culture, carrying the potential to cause significant social, economic, and health challenges. Similarly, the use of other substances can have profound impacts on health and well-being.

At Hāpai, we recognise the widespread and complex challenges associated with alcohol and drug-related harm, necessitating both innovative, hapori-driven approaches and effective policy-making.

Hāpai is dedicated to supporting Māori in their journey towards reducing alcohol and drug-related harm. We stand alongside and advocate for our communities, who experience inequitable alcohol and drug harm, and are committed to promoting healthier futures.

What Hāpai is doing in this space

Hāpai te Hauora is dedicated to creating environments free from the harm of alcohol and other drugs, believing this goal can be realised through a range of initiatives that include:

  • Raising awareness about the risks associated with alcohol and drug use
  • Advocating for policy changes
  • Conducting research on alcohol harm, and promoting harm minimisation through media efforts
  • Working to reduce alcohol accessibility by opposing license applications
  • Supporting the n existing policies, laws, and by-laws that regulate alcohol and drug use in Aotearoa. 

 Te Wai Ora

Hāpai te Hauora is part of a collective alongside Turehou Māori Wardens and Communities Against Alcohol Harm (CAAH) to form He Amo Titoki. This collective is part of Te Wai Ora, a rōpū of like-minded whānau, hapū, iwi, hapori, and health providers united in reducing alcohol harm.

Hāpai is currently engaged in several activities aimed at preventing and minimising alcohol-related harm. These include strengthening relationships with Ngā Wātene Māori, developing a network of confident amo tītoki in alcohol licensing through regular training, and increasing health workforce involvement in alcohol licensing and advocacy. The focus is on creating healing spaces for hapori affected by intergenerational trauma from colonisation and alcohol abuse.

The Manaaki Manual Whaea Mere 

The Manaaki Manual is an alcohol host responsibility toolkit co-created alongside whānau, for whānau. This initiative arose in response to significant alcohol-related harm within our communities and the deep-seated intergenerational trauma it has caused. Excessive alcohol consumption has led to various adverse effects for many whānau, including health problems, family disruption, and social challenges, creating a perpetuating cycle of trauma across generations. In acknowledging the necessity for a focused response to these issues, the toolkit aims to address the underlying causes of alcohol-related harm and offers resources for safer consumption and responsible hosting. Through this approach, the initiative seeks to break the cycle of trauma and foster healthier, more resilient whānau environments.