Peter Carrington has been a key figure at FreedomLife Te Nikau.
Peter Carrington has been a key figure at FreedomLife Te Nikau.
FreedomLife Te Nikau has celebrated its 25th anniversary. Kāpiti News editor David Haxton caught up with founder Peter Carrington to find out a bit more about the Paraparaumu-based organisation, which supports people to break free from a life of addictive or compulsive behaviours.
What are your thoughts about the 25th-anniversary milestone?
In December 1999, we took in three people and had just three staff. Looking back over those 25 years, the dedication of the staff we have had, the many volunteers and those who have supported us financially, many of whom had found freedom from addiction here and are paying it forward, has been an incredible achievement.
What is the background to the formation of FreedomLife Te Nikau?
My wife Mary and I had spent 10 years working with the Salvation Army’s Bridge Programme for those with alcohol and drug addictions. We saw that many people had a variety of substance or behavioural addictions/compulsive behaviours alongside alcohol and other drug addictions that weren’t addressed, and some had addictions that didn’t include alcohol and other drugs, but there was nowhere residential for those addictions to be addressed. Also, it was important to take the time to deal with life issues underlying the addictions. Our vision became to set up a professional, faith-based residential programme that was not a set time but gave each individual the time they needed to sort life and addictions out.
We set up a charitable trust (Cross Roads Christian Community Trust) in 1993, that began a counselling centre in Wellington. That grew from one counsellor (me) to up to five counsellors, and in the 16 years it ran, worked with 1000 individuals. FreedomLife Te Nikau began in December 1999.
FreedomLife Te Nikau is primarily a residential programme for people with addictions and other compulsive behaviours. Most people come with alcohol and drug or gambling addictions, but we have worked with those struggling with addictions to co-dependency, food, work, spending, sex, pornography, technology, self-harm, relationships, religion and much more. The programme is 6-18 months, with those completing the programme averaging 8-9 months with us.
We also do some one-to-one counselling for those in the community regarding addictions or general life issues.
FreedomLife Te Nikau founder Peter Carrington.
How many people has FreedomLife Te Nikau helped since its inception?
We have had 570 admissions to the residential programme, with a few of those being people who came more than once.
Counselling only, we have seen 320 individuals.
The effect of change in each person then goes on to be helpful to family/whānau and the wider community.
What are some of the key milestones in the history of FreedomLife Te Nikau?
The main milestones have been just getting through each year. We were the first recovery programme in New Zealand to be smokefree.
We are the only programme in New Zealand that deals with all addictions/compulsive behaviours.
What challenges has FreedomLife Te Nikau faced and overcome?
Initial challenges were getting finance for the trust to purchase the Te Nikau property and getting resource consent to operate when locals didn’t want an addiction programme in their area. Subsequently, we got on well with them with no problems.
The major ongoing challenge has been financing an all-year, 24/7 facility.
What has been the most rewarding part of being involved with FreedomLife Te Nikau?
The most rewarding part is seeing miracles happen daily as people get free from trauma and the shackles of addictions, and learn to live life in new ways.
Can you share a memorable moment from the past 25 years?
One memorable moment was our 20th-anniversary celebration where so many of the 180 people present shared how, as people now addiction free or having volunteered or worked here, life has been changed for them through Te Nikau. One specific story would be of a woman who had been in and out of mental health and addiction care since age 11 who is now in her mid-30s, five years after completing the programme is now partway through a counselling degree.
What does the future look like for FreedomLife Te Nikau?
To be honest the future is unclear. We have existed without any government support as we don’t fit any of their funding boxes. To continue we need further regular financial donations and some large contributions towards $1 million fundraising to clear mortgage-related debt and create a new financial stream. Half our staff are fulltime who need to be paid, and we need to cover greater property maintenance, insurance, and running costs.
What advice would you give to someone who is having difficulty with addictive or compulsive behaviour?
Get really honest with yourself that nothing changes if nothing changes and things will get worse without change. Commit yourself to finding help, and commit yourself to doing whatever it takes to move into recovery and a better way of living.
