News Page

Alcohol Action Response to Government's Alcohol Plans

27 August 2010

The Government made an interesting little promise when announcing their long awaited response to the Law Commission's review earlier this week which, more than the timid and minimal response itself sums up their irresponsible and uncaring attitude to the victims of alcohol.read more

Drugs Were Found in a Third of Drivers who Died in Crashes

Dominion Post 30 July 2010

A third of drivers who died in crashes had taken drugs, a five-year study reveals. The study, by police and Environmental Science and Research, looked at 1046 drivers who died on the roads between 2004 and 2009. Of those, about 13 per cent had only alcohol in their bloodstream. But that compared with 35 per cent of the dead drivers who tested positive for cannabis or other drugs. read more

Liquor Law Reform Zeroes in on Youth

Monday 23 August 2010

Justice Minister Simon Power has unveiled the Government's alcohol law reform package today in a press conference. The package focuses on minimising alcohol-related harm, including crime, disorder, and public health problems. The package responds to the Law Commission's review of alcohol laws, said the Minister. "What the Government has heard from the New Zealand public is that the pendulum has swung too far towards relaxation of alcohol laws. Today we are responding to the public's call for action" he explained. read more

New Zealand's National Alcohol Crisis

Education and self-responsibility by themselves are not enough. Effective regulation is needed to change New Zealand's harmful drinking culture. the 5+ Solution is a set of evidence-based policy directives which are a real solution to the national alcohol crisis. Read more

Experts to Grapple with Teen Traumas

The Dominion Post: 19/05/2010

Teenagers are living on a "powderkeg" created by complex social networks and physical development outpacing mental development, the Government's chief science adviser says.

Parents, school principals and the chief coroner have thrown their support behind a research project that was announced by Sir Peter Gluckman yesterday into teenage injuries and deaths. Learn more

A Brighter Future for all New Zealanders 

27 April 2010. Press Release: National Addiction Centre

The final report of the Law Commission released today sets the scene for a truly brighter future for ordinary New Zealanders.

Professor Doug Sellman, Director of the National Addiction Centre, described the final report as a "tour de force" which is likely to guide major change to the way alcohol is supplied, marketed and sold over the next few years. The heavy drinking culture is going to be brought under control and slowly dismantled.

The brighter future consists  of improved physical and mental health for the 700,000 heavy drinking New Zealanders whose drinking will reduce, but even more importantly, it consists of greater safety for everyone from alcohol collateral damage. Read more

  "Let's Cook"!

Last month Megan O'Sullivan, a senior alcohol & drug counsellor at WellTrust, organised a cooking programme for some of her clients. These were young people who had experienced some difficulties in life by using alcohol or other drugs. She believes that enriching the lives of these young people by helping them learn new skills will make a positive difference to them and their community.

"Let's Cook"was held at Hutt Valley High School with the help of cooking teacher Mrs Bala Thompson. The cooking classes provided an opportunity for WellTrust clients to learn skills in preparing and cooking meals, as well as giving them a basic understanding in food and nutrition. It engaged the youth in an interactive activity to help them learn and develop life skills.

Megan believes that it was good for her clients to be part of a non-drug using activity. The cooking programme was enjoyable and beneficial for all involved and she would love to run a similar project next year.

WellTrust would like to thank Hutt Mana Charitable Trust and Hutt Valley High School for their support.

Crisis Fear Prompts Push for Alcohol Ad Restriction - The Dominion Post - 11th September 2009

The booze culture is coming under increasing pressure, with a new lobby group of doctors and public health workers predicting "a national alcohol crisis".

Alcohol Action NZ says it is the industry, not the individual drinker, that needs to change and is pushing for a restriction on alcohol advertising.

Spokesman Doug Sellman, a psychiatrist who heads Dunedin's National Addiction Centre, says the alcohol industry invests $200,000 a day on advertising and marketing but fails to come clean on the harms of heavy alcohol use. Read more

WellTrust A&D Counsellor is also a succesful musician!

Tommy Sygrove, is musician as well as one of our counsellors. Click on the link below to hear an interview between Tommy, and Jim Mora on National Radio.

http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/national/nrmtalk/tommy_and_the_fallen_horses

Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce Organise Fundraising Quiz Night for WellTrust

The Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce recently held a fundraising evening for WellTrust at the Hutt Golf Club. Thirteen teams of 8 people from a variety of organisations competed for the right answers, and for the second year running Mills Mob took the crown! Our thanks to Renee from the Chamber for organising a superb night, and to the many sponsors who contributed prizes and items for auction.

David, Anna, Murray (CEO WellTrust) and Renee		Renee(L)and David(R) from the Chamber of Commerce, with auctioneer Rex
Renee		Murray & Lynda
Rex & Trish		Vanessa & Mark