About us
This website is launched and maintained by the Health Promotion Directorate within Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand. We want to thank the whānau who provided their time, stories and wisdom to shape this mahi. Ka nui te mihi ki a koutou.
Aotearoa is at a critical stage with alcohol. It has seeped into all parts of society and our hauora. The communities that make our home beautiful know that it is time to draw the line.
Our mission is to enable a direction in alcohol harm minimisation that is culturally responsive, community owned, and strengths-based. This is our contribution to a healthier and more equitable Aotearoa — one that acknowledges our ancestors and values.
To start this journey, we want to raise awareness about the impact of alcohol across all communities and parts of society. We want to support local and cross-government actions that make alcohol less visible, affordable and available, and help shift social norms towards low-risk alcohol consumption and not drinking.
Amohia te Waiora means to ‘uphold wellness’. It is a call that can be owned and championed by communities, whānau, and people who are unified by the need to change the place of alcohol in our society. It reminds us to prioritise our taha wairua, taha tinana, taha hinengaro and taha whānau, and it’s about mana motuhake in the action of raising up.
The tohu represents the four dimensions of Te Whare Tapa Whā and reminds us of balance. We see the need for this in nature, whānau, and our communities. In them, we want to ensure that power, health, strength and wellbeing are restored for generations to come.
The Health Promotion Directorate within Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand is formerly known as Te Hiringa Hauora | Health Promotion Agency, an evidence-based health promotion organisation. We were set up in 2012 as a Crown entity and in July 2022 we transferred into Te Whatu Ora. We have an extensive programme of alcohol harm minimisation work focused on supporting policy and culture change.
Go to the Health Promotion website.
The following karakia appears on the front page of alcohol.org.nz.
Waerea te Rangi e tū nei,
Waerea te Papa e takoto nei,
Waerea ngā maunga tapu,
Waerea te ara whānui a Tāne
ki te tāepaepatanga o te rangi,
Waerea te papa e takoto nei,
Puritia kia ū,
Puritia kia mau!
Whano, whano,
haramai te toki,
Haumi e!
Hui e!
Tāiki e!
Clear the tapu from Rangi above,
Clear the tapu from Papa below,
Clear the tapu from the sacred star peaks,
Clear the tapu of the land horizon and water horizon,
Clear the tapu from the earth that stretches afar,
Hold it in place
Make it secure
Unite, unite
and bring forth the celestial forces,
Together!
In union!
We are one!
This karakia expresses the clearing of tapu/restrictions before entering the light from a journey of darkness. It draws from the holistic pillars of the Māori worldview and binds the celestial forces to remove the tapu.
It is inspired by the defining moment of realisation in many of the stories that our people have shared. These moments are a turning point towards positive change. With the help of our whānau around us, we can all arrive at our defining moment of change.