12 - 13 NOVEMBER 2025 | ROTORUA

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

Programme

Wednesday 12 November


9.00am


Pōwhiri / Welcome


John Dobson Memorial Lecture
Glenn Colquhoun, Poet, Children’s writer


9.30am


10.10am


Morning Tea


Ngā Tikanga Piringa o te Tai Tokerau
Nā te korowai o te mana motuhake i rarangatia, mō te oranga tonutanga o te ira tangata. Woven beneath the cloak of self-determination, for the enduring wellbeing of the people.
Jacquii Hessell, Tui Teokotai, Mid North Mental Health and Addictions Service


10.40am


Dr Adam Bourne, Professor of Public Health and Director of the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society at La Trobe University in Melbourne.


11.10am


Evolving a professional self – how the training students receive impact the type of addiction practitioner they become
Dr Sam White, Executive Director, DAPAANZ


11.40am


Tom Coderre, Public Health Advisor · Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) - Virtual presentation


12.00pm


12.40pm


Lunch


12.40pm


Concurrent sessions A

  • Mauri is an element, a life force that connects us with our ancestors, atua and the environment. Mauri ora refers to wellbeing that maintains the balance of the internal self with the external world. 

    However, the balance of mauri, along with other elements such as hau, and wairua is dynamic and can shift in response to external stresses and challenges, requiring attunement to this flow and actions focused on returning balance and ora.

    Workshop content

    • Introduce the concept of mauri, states or mauri and their connection to energy, stress responses and trauma.

    • You will have an opportunity to use worksheets that explore mauri, your own shifting states; times of being stuck and how to attune and respond to the shifting nature of mauri; and

    • Discuss the application of mauri to practice and the AO Marama app https://terauora.com/ao-maarama/

    This workshop is part of He tohu te Mauri: A Māori Therapeutic approach to Trauma. The advanced Pae Tata Pae Tawhiti workshop

  • Hooked on sugar: Addiction or not?
    Dr Rimke Bijker, A/Prof Simone Rodda

    Exploring the views of Alcoholics Anonymous among alcohol use disorder practitioners. What influences their perceptions?
    Bonny Mathe Helms, Maria Bellringer, Wendy Wrapson 

    Transplantation and Gambling Risks: Validating a culturally responsive model for Asian migrant gambling harm
    Dr Kelly Feng, Dr Bo Ning

    Support for Impacted Family/Whānau Members: Learnings from a decade of practice
    Dr Pauline Stewart

  • DCM: Understanding homelessness in Wellington and our unique approach to harm reduction and recovery
    John Vogenthaler

    At what cost?
    Silivelio Fasi

    Hepatitis C and Te Tai Tokerau: An innovative approach to screening and treatment
    Charael Anderson, Dr Geoff Noller

    Supporting Asian communities in New Zealand’s alcohol and drugs treatment: Community-based harm reduction programmes
    Sen Liu

    Te Pā Maru: Reflections and aspirations from Aotearoa’s first managed alcohol programme Empowerment. Transformation. Fullness of life
    Chelsea Allan, Jo Ganc, Jasmine Pearce

  • Kia Hiwa Rā: Facing challenges with purpose – Social value and support for Tāngata Whaiora post-corrections
    Suzette Jackson, Ingrid Purcell

    Beyond detox and cognitive remediation: Enhancing the impact of compulsory treatment
    David Prentice, Hannah Fay, Dr Sarah Appleton, Dhruvi Patel

    Detoxification service doctor cover in a rural setting
    Rachel Beech

    Continuing care – Insights from four years of working with clients after they graduate from residential rehab and return to the community
    William Blakemore

    Internal family systems for recovery - A return to authentic self
    Araluen Clarke

  • Working with young people with co-existing problems
    Jo Claridge

    Kia Ora Ake: Sowing the seeds of wellbeing in children to prevent future alcohol and drug challenges
    Candice Thum, Holley Rahipere

    Engaging gamers in therapy – The ‘out of office’ experience
    Scott Turnbull

    The real G – Understanding gambling
    Monica Leatinuu

    What happens when healing doesn’t start in a clinic or classroom but in the taiao where rangatahi learn to be kaitiaki of their own awa?
    Tara Howell, Benjamin Neho


3.10pm


Afternoon tea


3.40pm


Concurrent sessions B

  • Refer to A1 concurrent session.

  • Te Whare Aronui; Revitalising traditional practices for maternal services
    Iraia W, Terukutia Tongaawhikau

    Te Ira Oranga:
    A journey of self-discovery in recovery
    Mere Thompson

    Women, alcohol and menopause: A scoping review
    Ann Johansen

    Motherhood under watch: Surveillance, protection and the stories wāhine tell
    Suzette Jackson

    Understanding addiction and recovery through whānau and mana wāhine perspectives
    Lena Kemp

  • Noho Wānanga: Revitalising tikanga through the tuakana/teina dynamic
    Lusan Turton, Josh Kemp

    Hīkoia Te Whetū, Hīkoia Te Marama (Kaupapa Māori)
    Riana Potaka, Nella Peita, Leo Kenny

    Whakarauora: Reviving identity through kaupapa Māori” culture as our compass
    Rhonda Zielinski-Toki

    Born into Chaos – rewriting the narrative
    Lesley Allen, Piriwiritua Kahui

  • Pacific youth rainbow – Inspiring cultural identity
    Herman Ah Kiong, Kaio A

    This session will also include a panel offering insights and discussion on research, advocacy and practice approaches to support rainbow communities here and in Australia.

  • Details to be provided.

  • There is no right or wrong way: Exploring one way to talk with affected others about their responses to problematic gambling/substance misuse in their whānau
    Steve Staunton


Day one concludes


5.10pm


Conference awards dinner (limited numbers)


7.00pm

Thursday 13 November


Experience Trauma Sensitive Yoga for yourself


7.30am - 8.30am

  • Gillian Hotchin, Trauma Sensitive Yoga Facilitator and dapaanz Registered AOD/PG Practitioner

    Trauma Centre, Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY) is a scientifically validated, evidence based intervention for chronic trauma and PTSD. It uses yoga shapes and movements to invite embodied connection to internal body sensations, known as interoception.

    This 1 hour session will offer an embodied experience of a TCTSY session. This session will be solely dropping in and experiencing this modality for yourself and if you would like to learn more of the theory behind it, please consider coming to the break out session on Thursday afternoon.

    If you choose to join in with this session, we ask that you come with the intention of being open to exploring your own felt sense of your body and possibly taking your work hat off for this space. As we are sharing a space with others, this intention and openness helps to create a safe and co-regulated space for others to do the same.

    A few points to note:

    ·       Everything in TCTSY is always your choice

    ·       You are in charge of your body and know your body best

    ·        Your facilitator will not leave her mat and will be practicing alongside you

    ·        There are no hands on assists

    ·        There is no music or chanting in this practice

    ·        We ask all phones are on silent during the session

    ·        Please bring anything that might support your practice (eg blanket, water, notebook, sensory items)

    ·        Where whatever is comfortable for you to move in

    ·        We will provide yoga mats

    ·        Please arrive by 7:20 for a 7:30am start

    ·        There will be 15mins (8:30-8:45) offered for further embodiment time or to move into the wider conference.


9.00am


Welcome to day two


Alcohol harm minimisation: Opportunities for action from research to practice | Panel discussion
Luisa Silailai, Tom Devine, Andrew Galloway, Dr Andy Towers


9.05am


Gather the fire
DRUA Pasifika keynote speaker: Phil Siataga, National Research and Workforce Development Manager, Mapu Maia


9.45am


Concurrent sessions C


10.50am

  • Details to be provided.

  • A peer support framework for the workforce in gambling harm
    Colin Edwards, RoseHeta-Minhinnick

    From harm to healing: Empowering Tāngata Whaiora and communities against gambling harm
    Sarina Harris

    Voices of lived experience: Asian people's journeys from gambling to recovery
    Dr Elsie Ho, KellyFeng

    Whānau and lived experience: Reframing gambling harm from the inside out
    Debbie Savin, Brown G, Simpson D

  • The Nīkau practice framework: A focused framework for social work practice with substance use
    Dr Anna Nelson

    Guiding ethical and culturally sustained AI integration in Māori suicide prevention
    Barnes A, Codey Bell,Moselen H

    Hoake - Holistic treatment for severe gambling harm
    Amanda Young

    Three Tongan siblings share their experience & innovation using cultural values as mental health professional in NZ & Australia
    Tea Mau-Tukia

    Supporting AOD development in Papua New Guinea
    Mark Wood

  • Leadership and Change: The Mapu Maia Perspective
    Ah Honi T, Siataga P, Fa'anana I

    “HOUSIE” as social connection therapy tagata matutua: A Pacific health promotion tool that matters
    Efarina Sititi, Taloto Rufo Pupualii

    Va-Tagata model:  Importance of cultural values in dealing with addiction and mental health problems for pacific people and their communities
    Asiata Lealofi Sio, Jonathan Pouli-Lefale

    Group work in community - The power of emotional literacy
    Lupe Asi, Dietrich Soakai

  • Te Whare Taonga: Holding the complex – māmā, intimacy, violence and healing in recovery spaces
    Suzette Jackson, Natasha Cairns

  • Gillian Hotchin, Trauma Sensitive Yoga Facilitator and dapaanz Registered AOD/PG Practitioner

    Trauma Centre, Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY) is a scientifically validated, evidence based intervention for chronic trauma and PTSD. It uses yoga shapes and movements to invite embodied connection to internal body sensations, known as interoception. Through engaging with TCTSY participants have been seen to gain an increased sense of ownership over their bodies, emotions, thoughts, internal regulation and overall PTSD  symptom criteria.

    This 45 min break out session will introduce you to the theory underpinning TCTSY and the tools used within its modality including a short chair based TCTSY to experience these learnings in practice. It is hoped there might be elements of trauma theory underpinning TCTSY that could be added to your own tool box for your own mahi, including possible shifts in language to support embodiment and self connection.


12.20pm


Lunch


1.20pm


Concurrent sessions D

  • Rongoaa Maaori; An indigenous-led, primary model of care
    Terukutia Tongaawhikau 

    Beyond treatment: Psychedelic rongoā, mana, and the future of addiction healing
    McQueen J, Dr Tehseen Noorani

    Tū Wairua: Development of a rongoā Māori approach to healing methamphetamine use disorder with psilocybin containing mushrooms. Initial findings from phase 1 clinical trial
    Anna-Leigh Hodge, Jody Toroa

  • Drawing on Pacific strength and success: How starting with Pacific leadership of and approaches to mental health and addictions practice can support the development of services that are more effective for diverse New Zealand populations
    Dr Ruby Tuesday

    Changes in access to specialist addiction services in Aotearoa from 2019/20 to 2023/24
    Hannah Paap, Russell S

    He Pou Tohutohu: Measuring knowledge transfer and outcomes for prison AOD treatment programmes
    Terry Huriwai, Hitesh Lochan, Fiona Miles 

    Investigating social-cultural factors influencing the attitude, behaviour and experience of Asian New Zealanders toward alcohol and drug use
    Dr Wardah Ali, Dr Kelly Feng

    2025 New Zealand Asian well-being & mental health survey
    Dr Kelly Feng, Dr Andrew Zhu, Dr Wardah Ali

  • Integrating Kaupapa Māori peer support to enhance wellbeing and AOD recovery
    Rebecca Battersby, Murray K

    Ka Rere Te Manu – Kia Mau ki te Kaupapa: Strengthening Peer Role Integrity in Clinical Spaces
    Aroha Crosbie, Brody Runga, Rachel Scaife, Denise Black

    From stigma to strength: Growing the workforce through lived experience
    Edith Moore, Zoë Collins

    Nōku Te Mana - taking back control over my life
    Shane Kennard

    Peer Whanaungatanga in an opioid recovery clinical setting
    Beecroft M, Cole J, Vinod Kozhissery,Annemarie Turner,Lilley T

  • The power of whānau: Navigating hauora together
    Lucas Netana-Rakete, Bonnar B, Mane C, McAllister D

    He waka taiora: A kaupapa Māori model of pre- and post-treatment housing and whānau support
    Bessina Pehi, Steward Eiao

    He Tāngata, He Whenua, He Oranga: A solution-focused kaupapa Māori approach to healing for Māori and Pacific men impacted by childhood sexual violence, addictions, and mental health challenges
    Dr Alexander Stevens II

  • Enhancing support and prevention for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) in New Zealand
    Rebecca Ruwhiu-Collins, Ross Bell

    Let’s talk sex: Sex and drugs e-learning modules for healthcare practitioners
    Shaun Hill

    Whakaohooho manawa ora: Cognitive screening and support in alcohol and other drug services. Aotearoa New Zealand practice guidelines
    Jason Jones

    Innovative and peer-led workbooks to guide your practice
    Phil Glaser

    Manaaki in practice: Adapting and embedding harm reduction in client care settings
    Spencer Dietrich


Grab and Go Afternoon tea


2.35pm


2.50pm


Keynote presentation


3.30pm


Conference concludes