Maori community action wins the battle over legal highs

Maori community action wins the battle over legal highs

NZ Population Health Congress media release, 6 October 2014

A range of community activities and protest supported by Maori health organisations helped win New Zealand’s battle against legal highs, the NZ Population Health Congress was told today in Auckland. In a presentation to the Congress Antony Thompson from Te Runanga O Ngati Whatua Public Health Unit outlined his organisation’s strategy.

“We set out to influence policy and legislation at local and national levels to greatly restrict or ban public access to these substances through community action. Additionally, we aimed to document what effect legal highs were having on whanau, and their communities, to inform a public health campaign showing the real life effect of these substances.

“We attended several community events where we also undertook surveys, video interviews, and collected postcard submissions. We found that, despite the negative impact of legal highs on whanau and communities, many people did not know how they could voice their concern.

“We then used this data to inform our initiative and collaborate with organisations as equally concerned as ours. This collective used their extensive community networks to raise awareness ofthese problems and also provided a voice to rally for change to local legislation. We sought a ground-up community driven approach to advocate for change supporting a public campaign thatsaw action on the streets.”

The use of social media, as well as traditional mediums, public displays, and informed submissions to local and central government all provided a voice for communities to speak directly to politicians and policy makers.

“The project culminated in a rally in Waitakere on 5 May and was attended by 500 people. We became the champions of change with other organisations who shared our vision.

“This public outcry generated from various efforts, including our own and others around the country, brought about a change to the Psychoactive Substances Act to remove all remaining products for sale until they are proven to be safe. We submitted more than 1500 postcards to local and national government calling for change.

“We collected data on the harm synthetic cannabis has in our communities which we will continue to use to support the development of local and national policy in this area and in public heath policy promotion.

“The key to our success was our ability to identify and collaborate with pivotal members of the community and, using information we gathered through community engagement, act decisively to bring about change.

“Further work needs to be continued to influence policy at local and national levels. While products have been removed from shelves, they have the potential to return. Therefore, our effortsfollowing this initiative need to focus on both addressing the fallout from these changes and that information is provided to communities about the harm these substances can cause. It is hoped that in doing so, the demand for these products will be reduced, and the illegal sale and distribution of products will be inhibited by community action.”

ENDS

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