Embraced by Ngongotaha maunga (mountain) and overlooking Lake Rotorua, Te Whare Oranga Ngakau is a safe, supportive environment for people to grow their understanding of the issues related to their drug and alcohol use, and then develop and practice better strategies for addressing those issues.
This kaupapa Māori program is suitable for any pakeke/adult who is open to using Māori frameworks and knowledge to develop themselves. Offering a structured 12 week live in program, Te Whare Oranga Ngakau caters well for people with longer histories of complex drug and alcohol misuse with related health, social and/or offending issues.
Residential alcohol and drug treatment works best when:
• You have been alcohol and drug free for a period of time before entering the service. Most people benefit from some structured withdrawal management (detox) before entry.
• You have been an active participant in drug and alcohol counselling – especially group work. Groups are a core part of our delivery and it helps to be prepared for this level of activity.
• You are tobacco free. Te Whare Oranga Ngakau is a smokefree and vapefree environment. We strongly encourage people to talk to their GP about nicotine replacement therapy and working on smoking cessation well before entry.
How to access Te Whare Oranga Ngakau:
There are a number of ways to be referred to the service. We do not accept self-referrals.
• If you live in the Midlands DHB Region (Lakes, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, Tairawhiti or Waikato) talk to your community alcohol and drug service (this includes people being seen by a Community Corrections Service in these areas).
• If you are currently serving a prison sentence and are considering options on release, please talk to your Corrections Case Manager.