Ease Up On The Drink

Ease Up On The Drink

Community champions taking action to influence and lead change in New Zealand's drinking culture were celebrated at the launch of a Maori 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 Maori to make positive choices around alcohol use.

TAIHOA images and bilingual messages focus on tamariki (children), rangatahi (youth), Whanau(families) and kaumatua (elders) - as well as the whare (home) and the marae - in a call to communities to 'taihoa!'

The word means to wait, pause and reflect before making decisions that impact on individuals and those around them.

ALAC General Manager Strategic Operations, Tuari Potiki, says the new resource is a tangible response to a community-driven demand for tools which support community activities to reduce alcohol-related harm.

A number of organisations have already taken on board the TAIHOA concept including MaoriTelevision, New Zealand Rugby League and recipients of ALAC's Community Action on Alcohol Fund (CAAF).

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

• Community Action Youth and Drugs (CAYAD) Co-ordinator Bev Thomas from Tūranga Health in Gisborne;

• Jay Davis, an AOD youth worker with Invercargill-based Ngā Kete Matauranga Pounamu Charitable Trust which received CAAF support;

• Wainuiomata High School students involved in a youth leadership programme, Te Roopu Mana o Wainuiomata;

• MaoriTelevision presenter Mātai Smith who hosts popular karaoke competition, Homai Te Pakipaki - a show which promotes the 'Ease up on the drink' messages;

• Hinehou Apiata, a kuia from the Waitangi marae, Te Tii, who has been inspired to lead a Whanauinitiative targeting alcohol harm issues;

• World extreme unicyclist champion Christian Huriwai, a youth worker with a Kaikohe provider; and

• Dame June Mariu from Aotearoa MaoriNetball Oranga Healthy Lifestyle (AMNOHL) which has developed a policy on alcohol.
"Preventing and reducing alcohol harm among Maoriis not something that ALAC can do alone - ALAC is acutely aware that it needs to team up with whānau, hapū, iwi, communities, Maoriservice providers, central and local government and the non-government sector to really make a difference," says Mr Potiki.

"Designed to connect Maoriharm reduction efforts across the country, TAIHOA supports, celebrates and builds upon the community spirit and momentum achieved by a wide range of individuals and groups who work tirelessly to reduce Maorialcohol-related harm."

Pouarahi Maori(MaoriManager) at ALAC, Matiu Julian, says research shows that many Maoriare already actively supporting their friends and Whanauto moderate their drinking.

Friends (54%) and family members (30%) of drinkers were the main sources of assistance and advice by offering them water or food (33%), suggesting that they slow down their drinking (11%) or that they stop altogether (8%).

Those already intoxicated were offered a place to sleep (34%), had arrangements made to get home (26%) or offered to take them home themselves (24%). In most cases (77%), someone had tried to stop young Maoridrinkers from having too much to drink - or at least helped keep them safe.

The same research also shows that 82 per cent of all rangatahi believe it is important for people to talk honestly with their friends if their drinking is getting out of hand.

Mr Julian says the new Maorimessages support Whanauto have the confidence to talk about alcohol issues as they arise in the home or the marae and to take action about drinking too much, whether it is their own drinking or the drinking of someone else they care about.

"The TAIHOA brand complements and enhances ALAC's 'Ease up on the drink' campaign and enables communities throughout the country to leverage off the successful national promotion.

"While research shows that Maoriare engaging with the mainstream campaign, and having conversations with friends and family about binge drinking, ALAC believes this approach can be extended and maximised to create and support sustainable, positive behavioural changes for Maoriat a regional and community level."

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

For copies of the 'TAIHOA - ' Ease up on the drink' resources, visit the ALAC website - www.alac.org.nz.

ENDS

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