Alcohol and Drug issues affecting Māori to be debated 05 February 2004 05 February 2004
Māori alcohol and drug practitioners and those working to improve alcohol and drug outcomes for Māori are urged to attend this month's national hui in Rotorua. <BR><BR>Organised by the Alcohol Advisory Council (ALAC), the aim of the hui is to help Māori whānau identify and respond to alcohol-related issues facing their communities. <BR><BR>"One of the issues being debated is the setting up of a Taumata (national leadership group for the Māori drug and alcohol sector)," says ALAC manager Māori Whānau Programmes, Te Atarangi Whiu. "Māori community workers and Māori whānau are calling for leadership and guidance in traditional ways to reduce harm from alcohol for Māori whānau.<BR><BR>"This issue has been debated for some time and needs to be resolved so we can then firmly channel our energies into improving the health and well being of Māori." <BR><BR>Te Atarangi says prominent Māori academics and practitioners within the alcohol and drug sector will set the scene for a vigorous debate o
Māori alcohol and drug practitioners and those working to improve alcohol and drug outcomes for Māori are urged to attend this month's national hui in Rotorua.
Organised by the Alcohol Advisory Council (ALAC), the aim of the hui is to help Māori whānau identify and respond to alcohol-related issues facing their communities.
"One of the issues being debated is the setting up of a Taumata (national leadership group for the Māori drug and alcohol sector)," says ALAC manager Māori Whānau Programmes, Te Atarangi Whiu. "Māori community workers and Māori whānau are calling for leadership and guidance in traditional ways to reduce harm from alcohol for Māori whānau.
"This issue has been debated for some time and needs to be resolved so we can then firmly channel our energies into improving the health and well being of Māori."
Te Atarangi says prominent Māori academics and practitioners within the alcohol and drug sector will set the scene for a vigorous debate on the issues.
There will be two keynote addresses on the opening day of the hui.
The first is from Moe Milne (Ngati Hine, Nga Puhi nui tonu), an independent contractor in the Māori Health field with a wealth of knowledge and experience in the Hauora Māori field, especially in the Mental Health and Disability fields.
She is followed by Te Orohi Paul (Ngai Tuhoe, Ngati Awa, Te Arawa), who has been involved in the Māori Alcohol and Drug field for the past two decades and is currently Manager in a new Rotorua based Māori PHO - Te Kupenga a Kahu.
Further debate around service development will be fuelled on the second day with a keynote address from well known academic and Director of the Eru Pomare Maori Research Centre of the Wellington School of Medicine Dr Paparangi Reid (Te Aupouri), and a presentation from Takarangi Metekingi (Tainui, Te Ati Haunui a Paparangi, Ngati Hauiti) the Deputy Director of the Moana House residential programme in Dunedin.
The final keynote speaker is Amster Reedy (Ngati Porou) who has been involved in Māori education at all levels, from Te Kohanga Reo to being both a teacher and principal of Ngata Memorial College.
The three-day hui is being held at Te Papaiouru and Tunohopu Marae in Rotorua from February 16 to 18.
For further media information contact Te Atarangi Whiu on 04 917 0060
