Methamphetamine is a significant contributor to drug harm in Aotearoa New Zealand. Social and community damage are significant components of this harm, and this is experienced inequitably by Maori communities. This project aimed to identify programs and approaches that focus on reducing social and community harm, and those that incorporate indigenous perspectives. With the growing work being done on defining a public health approach to drugs, this project asks; What should a public health approach to methamphetamine look like in practice, in Aotearoa New Zealand?
This free 1-hour webinar on Friday 15th of May 2026 explored:
- Indigenous approaches to reducing methamphetamine harm
- What is known (and not known) about reducing social and community harm
Following the presentation, there was a live Q&A session with questions from webinar attendees. This webinar covered information relevant for researchers, policymakers, people who use methamphetamine, family and community members.
Watch recording below:
Presenters: This webinar was presented by Dr Rose Crossin and Dr Jai Whelan from the Dept. of Public Health, Christchurch, University of Otago.
Rose is a Senior Lecturer in the Dept. of Public Health, and her research focuses on understanding and measuring drug harm, and the ways in which harm can be reduced, from a public health perspective. Harm reduction principles are key to her research, which has had policy and practice impacts.
Jai Whelan (Ngai Te Rangi, Pakeha) is a Postdoctoral Fellow, harm reduction advocate and drug user. He is interested in a broad range of health research topics, although his primary focus is drug studies. He is particularly interested in research that pertains to harm reduction, drug policy, lived and living experience, and the intersection of these areas and Te Ao Maori.