Community champions say... TAIHOA!

Inspirational champions making a change in the drinking culture in their communities were showcased at the launch of a Māori community resource in Wellington today (Thursday June 14 2012).

‘TAIHOA – Ease up on the drink’ has been developed by the Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand – Kaunihera Whakatūpato Waipiro o Aotearoa – to engage and support Māori to make positive choices around alcohol use.

Special guests at the launch were Māori community champions who spoke about their work to initiate, mobilise and sustain action for long-term change.

They included Bev Thomas (Gisborne); Jay Davis (Invercargill); Wainuiomata High School students (Wellington); Mātai Smith (Auckland); Hinehou Apiata (Waitangi); Christian Huriwai (Kaikohe); and Dame June Mariu (Auckland).

Pouarahi Māori (Māori Manager) at ALAC, Matiu Julian, says there is a high demand from iwi, regional and community groups for Māori resources promoting ‘Ease up on the drink’ for hui, events and projects.

“The TAIHOA language and messaging supports the mainstream ‘Ease up on the drink’ campaign but with a Māori tone, flavour and manner and can be adapted to incorporate and accommodate community names as well as various tribal dialectal differences,” says Mr Julian.

“ALAC specifically wants to engage with whānau around the issue of drinking in the home because the whare is where most Māori adults tend to drink – they feel it is acceptable to get drunk at home because it is regarded as a safe environment. The whare is also a central place for whānau and, therefore, a relevant and potentially powerful ‘trigger’ point.”

BEV THOMAS (Tūhoe, Ngāti Porou) is the Community Action Youth12-24 years of age. and Drugs (CAYAD) Co-ordinator with hauora provider Tūranga Health in Gisborne. Bev – who features in a Community Action on Alcohol DVD produced by ALAC – has been a major force in rallying the urban and rural Māori communities in Tūranganui-a-Kiwa since 2008.

A recent success has been the whānau hui and activities based around the development of alcohol policies by eight Gisborne marae who are leading the way in reducing alcohol-related harm in their communities. Strategies already in place include ensuring there is a sober driver at special events; a time limit on drinking; drinking only in specific areas; encouraging non-alcoholic events; and ensuring children who are exposed to drinkers are kept safe.

Bev paid tribute to the whānau of the marae who she says are integral to the initiative’s success. The TAIHOA resource features an image of Gisborne marae leaders Claude Ruru (Takipu); John Pomana (Takitimu); Hohepa Brown (Tapuihikitia); Kuini Tupara (Takitimu); Buddy Smith (Mangatū); and Temple Isaac (Ngāi Tāmanuhiri). Pakeke and kaumātua who are part of the marae initiative but are not featured in the photo are David Hawea (Pakowhai); Mauhoe Waihape (Whakato); and Tangiwai Ria (Parihimanihi Marae Waihīrere).

JAY DAVIS (Te Āti Haunui-a-Pāpārangi) is an AOD youth worker with Ngā Kete Mātauranga Pounamu Charitable Trust based in Invercargill, Southland. A newly recognised Whānau Ora provider, the trust connects families with resources, ideas and energy for wellbeing and independence. Ngā Kete Mātauranga Pounamu received support from ALAC's Community Action on Alcohol Fund for a Māori and Pacific Island youth project to produce a music DVD, create posters and host an event to celebrate the voice of local youth with the theme of alcohol reduced harm.

Jay says the CHUR project – ‘Choose Hauora Unlimited Rangatahi’ – is a locally developed music DVD that aims to increase the awareness of alcohol-related harm so the ill effects of alcohol become visible and constructively talked about by local youth, whānau and the Murihiku community. “In the AOD youth worker’s role, I use the CHUR resource as a backdrop to youth discussions on alcohol harm minimisation in both individual one-on-one or group sessions.”

WAINUIOMATA HIGH SCHOOL – with ALAC’s support – has joined forces with Taipak Development Limited to launch a leadership programme, Te Roopu Mana o Wainuiomata, for a select group of students. The programme includes a number of marae stays throughout the year which will involve leadership development, personal goal setting and management skills for school projects. Taipak Development staff members have developed relationships with the rangatahi and will run the programme with support from the secondary school.

The student’s first major project has been the production of a rap song for the TAIHOA launch talking about who they are, where they have come from and why they are here. “They are an amazing bunch of young people who have been given a unique opportunity to realise their potential and they’ve grabbed it with both hands,” says Wainuiomata High School spokesperson Martin Henry.

MĀTAI SMITH (Rongowhakaata, Ngāi Tāmanuhiri, Ngāti Kahungunu) is a multi-award winning television presenter and producer, and current host of Māori Television’s popular karaoke talent show, Homai Te Pakipaki. For several years, ALAC has been developing an on-air presence as a sponsor of the Friday night programme with ‘Ease up on the drink’ message endorsements delivered by the show’s presenters and a ‘Paki Party’ competition launched in 2011.

Hundreds of entries were received from viewers who sent in their ease up suggestions for hosting a Paki Party including some ‘hearty party paki recipes and tasty mocktails’. The Caffrey family from Huntly went well beyond expectations with youngsters Briah-Rose, Noami and Moana Jane producing a booklet and DVD. The video features the children asking their family to be their leaders and to teach them to be responsible around alcohol.

HINEHOU APIATA – who resides in Waitangi – is well known in the far North for her work in the community and particularly for her role at Te Tii Marae. In September last year, tragedy struck her extended whānau when her step-brother was killed in an accident which involved alcohol. So that his death is not in vain, this kuia has been inspired to take action and has been leading discussions with her whānau and marae around identifying alcohol harm and exploring ways to address this issue.

Hinehou has already held two hui and a third will be hosted by her whānau. The grandmother of 22 mokopuna and two great grandchildren has been very public about her desire to see families and communities free from alcohol-related harm – with her own whānau being the first priority. “The greatest role in my life is being a mum, a grandmother and a great grandmother – that role has helped me to be who I am today.”

CHRISTIAN HURIWAI (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Porou) cemented his place in history by becoming New Zealand's first world extreme unicyclist champion in 2010. The Kaikohe youth worker mentors hundreds of tamariki through his Whānau Ora work with health and social services provider, Te Hau Ora o Kaikohe. Christian wears the ‘Ease up on the drink’ t-shirt when he promotes physical activity and healthy lifestyles to the primary and secondary students and he says alcohol is a subject raised “surprisingly often” by the kids.

He is aware of the need to model moderate alcohol consumption to that age group, especially as he believes many young people in Northland are exposed alcohol use and misuse from a young age. “Alcohol is a hot topic I guess with kids – they all think it’s cool. They just like to make conversation – they will ask me things like, ‘do you like beer? Do you drink beer?’ I just respond with answers like, ‘I do drink alcohol but only on special occasions’ to try and model an alternative lifestyle.”

DAME JUNE MARIU (Te Whānau-ā-Apanui) established the Aotearoa Māori Netball Oranga Healthy Lifestyle (AMNOHL) initiative during her presidency of the Māori Women’s Welfare League. For more than 20 years, AMNOHL has organised a tournament where young Māori women at various age levels compete in a national netball championship. All players who make it through the tough regional trials have, along with their whānau, taken part in the AMNOHL total wellbeing programme which encompasses tinana, hinengaro, ngākau, wairua, whānau and hiranga tākaro.

The wahine Māori sporting organisation developed a policy on alcohol after a presentation by ALAC Northern Regional Manager Shirleyanne Brown at the regional health co-ordinators’ hui in Auckland in 2011. It prompted the organisation to consider extending its existing health focus to include minimising alcohol’s harmful effects. Netball is the vehicle to encourage a healthy lifestyle and – over the years – many young wāhine Māori players including several Silver Ferns have played key roles in the mentoring for success.

For free, confidential information, insight and support for your drinking or for someone you care about, phone the Māori Alcohol Helpline on 0800 787 798 or visit the website: www.easeuponthedrink.org.nz.

For copies of the ‘TAIHOA – Ease up on the drink’ resource, visit the ALAC website: www.alac.org.nz.

ENDS

For more information including interviews, information kits and examples of the resource, contact ALAC Pouarahi Māori (Māori Manager) Matiu Julian on +64 4 917 0721; mobile +64 21 660 129; or email taihoa@alac.org.nz.