Rangatahi Maia & Kahui Whetu Noho Marae

TUKOTAHI MARAE

As part of the Kahui Whetu program in collaboration with Rangatahi Maia we were able to execute the first noho marae for 2013. With awesome support from Maketu Hauora, this allowed us to be creative and initiate fun filled activities for the 25 youth that attended.  Components of the Kahui Whetu Program are lessons based on the affects and consequences of Alcohol, Drugs & smoking. Learning’s were applied through a combination of fun activities.

To end our fab noho we invited whanau to take part in our Poroporoake with a total of 75 people it was a packed out wharekai... In celebration, it was with much delight that we were immersed with such inspirational speakers that brought so much laughter to all whom attended,  The Rising star...Te Angihau Williams, (Local year 13 boy at Te Puke High School) the Motivator...Shane Te Hamua Nikora (Homai te Pakipaki).  Mr Williams spoke to the kids about following your dreams and inspirations.  Mr Shane Te Hamua Nikora spoke about his challenges in life and encouraged Tamariki to know their whakapapa and be proud of being Maori.  To complement and complete our awesome evening we were treated with the musically talented Billie Jill Bird.

 

Thanks so much for sharing your gifts with our Rangatahi, Hauora & whanau.

Maketu Hauora makes a stand on shops selling synthetic drugs in Te Puke

 Maketu Health & Social Services often find themselves between a rock and a hard place in regards law and order and moral issues. The recent debate around the sale of legal highs such as synthetic cannabis is a case in point.

For example, taking a strong moral stand may endear a health service to the community but alienate it from the very people it seeks to work closely with – that is the users and often victims of the legal and illegal substances.  But take a stand we must, for as the saying goes, “if you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything’.

In this regard, a “harm reduction” approach seems sensible. A harm reduction philosophy can be compared to the wearing a seat belt, it won’t prevent accidents, but it will reduce the chances of serious or fatal damage. The alternative of course would be never to drive a car.

Similarly, while the wholesale eradication of harmful substances from the shelves may be the ideal for some, the reality is that drugs in one form or another will always be a part of society.

No surprise then that we support the recently enacted law that seeks to regulate the sale of psychoactive substances, much in the same way that laws govern the sale of alcohol.