Hapu¯ stand up to meth
The hapu¯ of Te Whanau Moana me Te Rorohuri have declared their total opposition to methamphetamine in their rohe.
They said yesterday that the drug was destroying wha¯nau and infecting every rohe it entered, and they had had enough.
Haititaimarangai Marae committee chairman Mal HekeuaHack said a recent spate of methamphetamine-related crime and “activities” within the hapu¯ had prompted a number of wha¯nau to take steps to address the problem with a staged campaign, with the end goal of ridding the rohe of methamphetamine.
That stance had been confirmed at a discussion among wha¯nau and hapu¯ members at the marae last week.
Kauma¯tua and kuia, along with their tamaariki and mokopuna, launched the campaign by painting their message on signs around the community, some of which had previously asked motorcyclists and drivers to keep off the sand dunes.
This was just the beginning of the campaign for Te Wha¯nau Moana and Te Rorohuri, however. They planned not only to rid their rohe of the drug, but to educate themselves on how to help and support all wha¯nau affected by it.
“For these wha¯nau and hapu¯, it’s about wha¯nau first, not P, a spokesman said.
“The drug is destroying and infecting every rohe it enters, and we have had enough. It is time for us as wha¯nau and hapu¯ to do something about it.”