Celebrity-backed group takes on country's P epidemic

An organisation has been established to tackle New Zealand's dubious reputation as one of the biggest P-using nations in the world.

The Stellar Trust, formed by a group of Auckland Rotary Club members, aims to fight methamphetamine use by raising awareness of the drug and educating young people.

It plans to kick off with a black-tie fundraising dinner at SkyCity, featuring a celebrity roast of broadcaster Paul Holmes, whose daughter Millie has struggled with P addiction.

Trust chairman Alistair Burry said many people assumed P did not affect their lives but it was widely used by professional people and across all income groups.

"All the family violence that you see, all those poor babies and young kids that are being bashed. You'll find that nine times out of ten there's P in the home or in the environment.

"How long is this country going to allow this kind of thing to continue?

"It's an issue that has been under the carpet and maybe it's time that it was brought out into the open."

Mr Burry said the trust started when his Auckland East Rotary Club wanted to donate money to a P-related cause but struggled to find one.

They spoke to Holmes, who told them about his anguish over Millie's P addiction and the difficulties of finding treatment.

Holmes put the trust in touch with Mike Sabin, a former policeman who now works and campaigns full time against the spread of P.

Mr Sabin has calculated New Zealand's meth use as the highest per capita in the world.

The trust has Principal Family Court judge Peter Boshier as its patron and an advisory board including former Auckland Grammar School headmaster John Graham and Auckland Crown Solicitor Simon Moore.

Fundraising dinner

The newly-formed Stellar Trust is holding a charity dinner at Sky City on May 16 to raise funds for its campaign against P.

Speakers Tom Scott, Ginette McDonald, Gary McCormick, Invercargill mayor Tim Shadbolt and Peter Leitch, the Mad Butcher, will stage a celebrity roast of Paul Holmes. TVNZ newsreader Simon Dallow and Jim Hopkins will act as MCs.

Tables of 10 cost $3262. Guests can also buy tables of eight and bid for two celebrities to join them.

* To book a table go to www.coneystanleyevents.co.nz