Porirua Whānau Centre says a new $11.9 million Crown investment in the Resilience to Organised Crime in Communities programme will strengthen community-led work to prevent drug harm among local rangatahi.
The funding was announced on May 14 by Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee and Associate Police Minister Casey Costello. It will be provided over 12 months through the Proceeds of Crime Fund, which reinvests money seized from criminals into initiatives targeting methamphetamine harm, gang recruitment and community recovery.
Porirua Whānau Centre delivers Ko Wai Au, a school-based programme that works with young Porirua students on resilience, wellbeing and positive decision-making.
The centre has incorporated its ROCC-funded work into Ko Wai Au, adding content about the harms of drugs and organised crime.
Through the programme, tamariki learn about the real impacts of substances such as methamphetamine on their hauora, whānau and futures.
The programme also encourages young people to recognise their strengths, make positive choices and aim high.
Porirua Whānau Centre Chief Executive Liz Kelly said the funding showed trust in local communities.
“What works about this kind of funding is that it trusts communities to know what their people need,” Kelly said.
“We’re not being told what to deliver, we’re being backed to do the work we know makes a difference. And that’s how it should be.”
The Government says ROCC operates across seven regions and brings together government agencies, community organisations, service providers and local leaders to reduce organised crime and drug-related harm.
Porirua is one of the communities involved in the ROCC work programme, which supports locally led responses to harm and recognises that enforcement alone is not enough.
Pre- and post-programme evaluations of Ko Wai Au, grounded in Te Whare Tapa Whā, show increased understanding of drug harm and greater confidence among participants in making positive choices, the centre said.
Kelly said the continued support would help the centre maintain its work with young people in Porirua.
“We’re grateful for the continued support. It allows us to keep showing up for rangatahi in Porirua and doing the things that actually work,” she said.
“Community-led solutions get results, and this funding recognises that.”
The $11.9 million ROCC investment will cover seven regions across New Zealand. Porirua Whānau Centre is among community organisations delivering ROCC-funded work in the Wellington region.
Residents seeking more information about Porirua Whānau Centre programmes can contact the centre directly or follow its local updates, at: https://www.poriruawhanau.org.nz/
