Te Ururoa Flavell: Users need support after drug ban

There are obvious benefits of banning psychoactive substances but long-term consequences and support for users need to be addressed. Photo/Stephen Parker

Greetings to you all.

Because of the frustration and anger from the community, the Government is now looking to ban the sale of psychoactive substances until they can be proven to be safe.

We should celebrate this.

There are many stories about the negative effects that the drugs have had on users, indeed to whole families. The problem now is this - who will look after those who need to come off those drugs?

Second, where will they turn to feed their habit? Will we ever rid ourselves of drug addictions?

There is an obvious benefit of a ban on those drugs, but what about the long-term consequences?

No doubt there will be a number of you coming back to earth following the Rotorua Marathon. I am attempting to keep fit through running - but to run for three, four or five hours ... e hoa ma - you are awesome! Let us not forget the organisers and volunteers. If not for you, we would have no event, so I acknowledge you all.

There is another competition coming up, the regional kapa haka competition for Te Matatini.

As far as I am aware, there are five groups heading to Christchurch next year, so it's all on! Preparations started from the beginning of the year. More recently there have been live-ins, training for the body and mind, singing and more singing.

For what purpose? For 30 minutes on the stage.

These competitions are almost like a league test. So to all of the participants, helpers, cooks, babysitters, seamstresses, hairdressers, we celebrate and honour you all.

Those successful in securing a place to Christchurch, you will carry the prestige of Te Arawa from years gone by since the beginning of Te Matatini, so go hard.

I welcome your feedback. Email mpwaiariki@parliament.govt.nz. Phone 0508 924 274.

Te Ururoa Flavell is a Maori Party co-leader and the MP for Waiariki.

Maori translation:

Tena ano tatou katoa.

E hoa ma, na te tohe, na te hoha, na te takariri o nga hapori, kua aro mai te
kawanatanga ki te whakakore i te hoko o nga tarutaru i nga toa (R18). Me noho harikoa tatou ka tika. Ina ke te nui o nga korero mo te kino o aua tarutaru ki te hunga momi nei i taua mea tae atu ra ki nga whanau, whaea mai, matua mai, tuakana, teina mai. Ko te mate in?ianei, ko tenei. Ma wai taua hunga momi e tiaki kia hoki ki te ora? Ka rua, ka huri ratou ki kea, ki te aha an? hoki ki te whakatau i te hiakai? Ka mutu tuturu nei te kai i nga momo tarutaru? He painga ano o te whakakore i tenei wa, engari, ka pewhea te
pae tawhiti?

Kaore e kore, ara ano etahi o koutou e hoki mai nei ki te ao turoa whai muri mai o te
Omanga Roa (marathon). E ngana ana au ki te whakapakari i toku tinana ma te oma,engari, ki te oma mo te toru, wha, rima haora.... E hoa ma _ ka wani ke koutou. Kei wareware i a tatou ko nga kaiwhakahaere, nga ringa awhina. Ki te kore koutou, kua
kore he whakataetae. No reira, ko nga mihi nui ki a koutou katoa. Ara ana hoki tetahi
whakataetae nui whakaharahara e haere mai nei, ara, ko te Whakataetae a Rohe mo Te Matatini. E ai ki taku mohio, e rima nga roopu ka haere ki Otautahi a te tau
hou, no reira, he pakanga kei te haere. Mai i te timatanga o tenei tau, he whakatikatika te mahi. No nga ra tata kua hipa, he noho marae, he whakapakari tinana, hinengaro, he waiata, a he waiata ano, he huri penei, he huri pena te mahi. Mo te aha? Mo te toru tekau meneti i te papa tuawaewae. Ko enei whakataetae, he rite ki te kemu riiki o nga Kiwi ki nga Kangaru!!

No reira, ki nga kaihaka, ki nga kaiawhina, nga mea tunu kai, kaitiaki tamariki, tuitui
kakahu, whakapaipai makawe, me whakanui i a koutou katoa. Ko te hunga haere ki Otautahi, ka kawe i te mana o Te Arawa no ng? tau mai i te orokohanga o Te Matatini, no reira kia kaha.