Nga Kete Matauranga Pounamu Charitable Trust (NKMP) announced the expansion of Southland services after Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand (HNZ) Southern expanded its contract.
The service, called Hiwa-i-te-rangi, will be launched on May 29 and offer a hub of services, including one-on-one counselling interventions, group sessions, advocacy, experiential learning activities, art therapy, psychotherapy, weekly peer group meetings and a community withdrawal programme
Nga Kete, a mana whenua-mandated kaupapa Māoriprovider, has been providing addiction services in the South for more than 20 years.
Chief executive Tracey Wright-Tawha said Nga Kete’s increased resources would provide more services to clients via a Māori framework for people with addiction issues.
Te Whatu Ora HNZ Southern addictions and intellectual disability executive director Toni Gutschlag said the need for expanded community-based alcohol and drug services was identified in a 2021 review.
"The new service will provide culturally appropriate services closer to home, and will help address the significant inequities where there is a higher rate of methamphetamine addiction identified that are negatively affecting the Māori community in the Southland region."
The new model of care had been developed in collaboration with Te Aka Whai Ora and police, she said.
NKMP would work with police to provide a single point of entry into the service.
Nga Kete offered a wide range of connected services from which clients could benefit, Ms Wright-Tawha said.
"Hiwa-i-te-rangi is an expansion of our mental health and addiction services, focusing on 15 to 36-year-olds experiencing harm from methamphetamine use.
"We are looking forward to extending our collaborative working relationship with the police in returning people back to wellness and independence."
Ms Gutschlag said it was great Nga Kete would be providing the new service as it had a proven ability to provide specialist, clinically effective, innovative, culturally appropriate methamphetamine services in the Southland area.
