Launch of Ki te Ara Whakamua: Māori Community Action to reduce AOD harm

A community action fund to help support Māori solutions to reduce AOD harm was launched today. The Fund will be administered by national Māori Workforce Development organisation Te Rau Ora in partnership with Te Aka Whai Ora.

The Māori Community Action Fund is a one-off contestable fund established to support Māori-led solutions to reduce AOD harm.  The overall vision for the fund is Kia tika te wā; kia tika te wāhi, kia tika te tangata; kia ora te whānau – that whānau will thrive and flourish, with the right people, in the right place, at the right time.

Te Wai Taramea Māori Alcohol and Other Drug Workforce Report 2023 reaffirmed the need for better and different AOD care for hapori Māori across Aotearoa, and last year’s funding round provided pūtea to initiatives such as toi Māori, rangatahi education, and AOD support roopu.

“Ki te Ara Whakamua aims to get whānau and hapori thinking about alcohol and other drug care in a different way to enable new approaches based on Māori views of wellness” says, Whare Tukutuku – National Addiction Centre, Kaiwhakahaere, Tracey Potiki. “Through the Fund we can celebrate who we are as whānau, hapū, and iwi instead of the bad, mad and sad narratives that are often associated with drug users. Whare Tukutuku acknowledge the importance of whānau supporting whānau in finding solutions. This fund is an opportunity to Whakamana whānau in the AOD space.”

There are two types of funding streams available through Ki te Ara Whakamua 2024 round:

  • Whānau-led initiatives with grants up to $10,000, and
  • Community-led initiatives with grants up to $25,000

To apply for Ki te Ara Whakamua: Māori Community Action Fund 2024 visit www.wharetukutuku.com/aod-fund/