TE ŌHANGA MAURI - PRIORITY #3 - RECLAIM MAURI AND RESTORE CONNECTION

In Taitokerau, the methamphetamine epidemic is more than just a crime problem; it is a spiritual pathology. Between 2023 and 2024, consumption in our region jumped by a staggering 96%. This crisis exists because people are searching for energy and meaning in a system that has disconnected them from their families, their land, and their purpose. 

We view methamphetamine as "Anti-Mauri." It acts as a high-entropy substitute for true life force, providing a false sense of power while rapidly breaking down the health of the individual and the bonds of the whānau. Right now, the cost is devastating: 90% of children taken into state care in the Te Hiku region cite meth as the primary factor. The social harm cost to our region is estimated at $1.5 billion—wealth that is being incinerated instead of invested in our future.