TWO Ōpōtiki women who are spearheading the community’s response to the scourge of methamphetamine are welcoming plans to provide an accommodation facility for those seeking help with their addiction.

Te Pou Oranga O Whakatōhea has applied for resource consent to establish and operate a facility on Bairds Road for people undergoing drug rehabilitation treatment.

The facility will provide accommodation for up to eight residents while they receive support prior to, or after, attending an off-site drug rehabilitation programme.

Pauline Taiatini and Kylie Poihipi have had a long involvement in the fight against drugs and consider such a facility to be much needed within the community.

The women have run their Whare Rauora Healing from Meth classes from the Cyberwaka premises in St John Street for years and say there are now a group of people who have emerged from the meth cloud – including Mrs Taiatini – who are supporting others in their journey.

“We have seen heaps of people who have come out the other side,” Ms Poihipi said.

“There are lots of champions, but it will take generations.”

Mrs Taiatini said the process of healing saw people “talk into their pain, giving it a voice”.

“People who are indirectly affected also find support here,” she said.

“People find solace here – what is said here, stays here.”

Ms Poihipi said, “every kind of support was needed, on different levels”.

“It’s not just the addiction itself, but also the family,” she said.

They said there were currently six or seven whānau and their families working through the effects of the erratic behaviour that methamphetamine could generate.

“For the healing process to engage, it was important that the facilitators were authentic,” she said.

“People need to be genuine – to themselves and to who they serve.

“What we do is tried and tested, it’s not only the meth, but also the ora.”

The strategies the two women have developed work in a variety of situations.

“Today the issue is meth – and tomorrow it will be something else,” Ms Poihipi said.

“Pauline uses clinical tools as well; tools that she has found are working, but they must do the work.

“We often talk about consistency – the healing will not fall into your lap.”

Both women have individually been recognised for the work they do in community health, which typically features a practical approach based on Te Ao Māori.

They have also each suffered significant loss with former Ōpōtiki District councillor Louis Rapihana and Mrs Taitani’s husband, Steven, now offering them support from the other side.

Both men were actively involved in the fight against methamphetamine at the time of their deaths.

“Sometimes ideas just come into my head – and I know it’s Louis and Steven helping out,” Mrs Taiatini said.

As for Ms Poihipi, “I often talk to my fat cousin Louis,” she said.