Te Waka Huia takes a stand against P

Te Waka Huia takes a stand against P

Top kapa haka group Te Waka Huia will be taking a stand against the drug P at this year’s kapa haka regional competition in Auckland on Saturday June 23rd. Members will be wearing t-shirts with an anti P message on them that they have designed themselves. “We wanted to do this as we know of whānau affected by P. We know the devastating effect it can have on whānau” says Dr Ngapo Wehi. “We also know that the strong sense of family and tikanga that comes with kapa haka outweighs any drug by far”.

Hapai Te Hauora Tapui is proud to support Te Waka Huia with their stand. “Te Waka Huia is one of the paramount kapa haka groups in the country. Many of us look up to them as role models. For them to carry this message against P is powerful” says Nik Coupe, CEO of Hapai. Hapai is supporting this message as part of its work to raise awareness and minimise harm to whānau from drugs.

The term te waka huia is used to describe a repository of treasure. The group was named Te Waka Huia by one of the group’s founders Dr Ngapo Wehi as a reference to its members as individual repositories of treasure and as a reference to the potential inherent in every person to contribute to the advancement of Māori. “This is what we want to focus on, not drugs” Says Dr Wehi. Te Waka Huia will be performing at the Tamaki Senior Kapa Haka Regional Competition on Saturday 23rd June at the Waitakere Trusts Stadium. For help or information about P please contact the Alcohol and Drug Helpline 0800 787 797 or check out MethHelp at http://www.methhelp.org.nz/

ENDS

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