News, research and insights for our members
Earn-as-you-learn addiction practice internships: Applications closed
The first round of applications for the Earn-as-you-learn internship programme has now closed. Locations Internships for the first round were available in: Northland - Kaitaia and Kaikohe Tairāwhiti, Rotorua, Southern Waikato Hawke’s Bay Invercargill The internships include Paid employment in an intern addiction practitioner role (at minimum, the living wage, based on 12-months FTE) Funded training for a dapaanz-recognised clinical practice qualification [...]
Ka mua, ka muri: A conversation with Jenny Wolf
Jenny Wolf began her career as a mental health social worker. She has since worked in a variety of roles, including Regional Manager CADS Auckland, Senior Advisor Addiction Treatment at the Ministry of Health, and General Manager Bay of Plenty Mental Health & Addiction Services. Jenny is a founding member of the 2SLGBTQ+ Leadership Collaborative, in partnership with the Global Leadership Exchange (GLE). Currently Jenny also provides supervision, with [...]
Ka mua, ka muri: A conversation with Takurua Tawera
Takurua Tawera (Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Awa and Tūhourangi) has worked in the addiction sector for 38 years. A dapaanz member since its establishment in 2002, Takurua is a dapaanz registered practitioner and accredited clincial supervisor. He has been the organisation's Pou Whakarae on the dapaanz Board since 20xx. In November 2025, he was awarded dapaanz lifetime membership in recognition of his outstanding contribution and ongoing commitment to dapaanz, our [...]
Ka mua, ka muri: A conversation with Helen Schmidt-Sopoaga
Helen Schmidt-Sopoaga has been a dapaanz registered practitioner since 2004 and a member of dapaanz since 2002. She is an accredited clinical supervisor and serves on multiple national committees and advisory groups. In November 2025, she was awarded lifetime membership of dapaanz in recognition of her leadership and service to dapaanz, the wider addiction workforce and Pasifika communities across Aotearoa and beyond. Here we share Helen's reflections on some [...]
Earn-as-you-learn addiction practice internships launching soon
Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is funding a new, dapaanz coordinated internship pathway to help grow a sustainable addiction workforce. The Intern Addiction Practitioner programme will support better access to training for priority populations — applications* are encouraged from new entrants to the addiction workforce, peer or support workers seeking to transition to practitioner roles, and kaimahi within Kaupapa Māori and culturally diverse workforce pathways. [...]
Ka mua, ka muri: A conversation with Suzy Morrison
Suzy Morrison is a dapaanz registered practitioner, accredited clinical and accredited peer supervisor. A member since 2014 and Board member 2017-2022, Suzy was made a dapaanz lifetime member in November 2025 in recognition of her service to the sector. Earlier this year, we asked Suzy to reflect on changes and learning across the course of her career. We share her thoughts below. Scroll to the bottom to find out more [...]
Māori membership passes 600 and reaches almost 30% of total membership
At the end of February 2026, the number of dapaanz members identifying as Māori reached 608, or a smidge under 30% of total membership (2068 members). This milestone, and what it means for health services, communities and the addiction workforce across Aotearoa, means a great deal to us. Our Māori membership has steadily increased over the last decade. In the last five years, our Māori membership has increased at [...]
New member category to support graduates into employment
On 17 December 2025, dapaanz finalised the details on a new member category to support new graduates into our workforce: Provisional Practitioner (Graduate). This new category aligns with other allied health professions and is designed to support graduates with dapaanz recognised, applied qualifications during the period where they are seeking employment in a clinical role on their pathway to full registration. Who can be a Provisional Practitioner [...]
Annual Reports
Recent annual reports and AGM minutes can be downloaded below. 2025 Annual Report Dapaanz 2025 Certified Financial Statement, Performance Report and Statement of Service Performance 2025 Annual General Meeting 23rd Annual General Meeting, 17 December 2025: Minutes 2024 Annual Report Dapaanz 2024 Certified Financial Statement, Performance Report and Statement of Service Performance 2024 Annual General Meeting 22nd Annual General [...]
Welcoming Accredited Addiction Peer Support Workers and Supervisors to our membership
In March 2025, dapaanz launched two new member categories: Accredited Addiction Peer Support Worker (AAPSW) and Accredited Peer Supervisor (APS). These new member categories follow several years of consultation and research with dapaanz members, the Aotearoa Addiction Consumer, Peer Support and Lived Experience (CPSLE) workforce, as well as relevant sector agencies, organisations and educators. By the end of November (just nine months after launching), [...]
Congratulations to the 2025 award winners at Cutting Edge
Each Cutting Edge, we recognise members of the addiction workforce who are making exceptional contributions to our sector. Nominated by their peers, the award winners are selected by a dapaanz panel. This year, we were pleased to recognise 31 addiction sector kaimahi across 13 awards categories. We congratulate all the awards winners and thank you for your mahi. You make a difference for your communities and [...]
2025 Member Survey – A closer look: Case complexity on the rise
In June 2025, dapaanz conducted its biannual survey of members – numbering almost 2000 addiction sector kaimahi. The survey gave insights into our members’ experiences as front line workers and managers, along with their professional needs and concerns. Over the next few months, we will share some of the findings from the dapaanz 2025 Member Survey, including concerns shared by survey participants and areas identified as opportunities for making [...]
AI and online conduct guidelines released
The work and social context in which we live has become increasingly complex and is evolving rapidly. Social media and other digital platforms have changed how we navigate and maintain relationships, use language, share stories and build community. Similarly, the widespread use of artificial intelligence (AI) at home and work has had a profound impact. We know working within this context can be challenging. With this in [...]
A step-by-step guide supports new Complaints Policy
The new dapaanz Complaints Policy (2024) and guidance about concerns and complaints is now available on this website. To support complainants and members understand and navigate the process, dapaanz has produced a ten-step flow diagram. The diagram (right) provides details about the entire process including criteria, evidence and documentation requirements, decisions and reports, as well as expected timelines for different stages of the process. If you [...]
A closer look: The addiction workforce in Aotearoa New Zealand
In 2023, dapaanz commissioned a review of the addiction workforce in Aotearoa to better understand its size and scope, as well as to gain insights into working conditions, factors contributing to poor retention, and opportunities to develop and grow the workforce. Drawing on multiple datasets, both published and unpublished, the review (finalised in November 2023) drew from a range of sources, and included a series of workshops and discussions [...]
Celebrating our 2023 Award Winners at Cutting Edge
Cutting Edge | Te toka tū moana was held in Kirikiriroa | Hamilton on 22-23 November 2023. Once again we took the opportunity to recognise members of the addiction workforce, nominated by their peers, for the contribution they make to their sector, to their organisations and to support tāngata whai ora. Congratulations and a big shout out to the 2023 awards winners! 2023 Cutting Edge awards [...]
2023 brings ongoing registration and annual practicing certificates
From 1 January 2023, dapaanz will offer renewal of registration to all existing fully registered practitioners, whether they are currently practicing or not. This will allow non-practicing practitioners to remain registered, irrespective of where their career takes them. Practitioners who are actively engaging in addiction practice with tāngata whai ora will also need an Annual Practicing Certificate (APC) and to fulfil current annual practice, supervision and CPD requirements. [...]
A snapshot of our membership in 2022
This year we are celebrating 20 years since dapaanz called for members at Cutting Edge 2002. We are super proud of how far we have come in those 20 years, of the breadth and diversity of our membership and the services they offer around the country. For this year's Cutting Edge, we prepared some snapshots of our membership to share with attendees. We share these below. [...]
Thank you and farewell to our 2019-2022 Board
The dapaanz Board serving the period 2019 to 2022 was officially farewelled at our AGM on Thursday 8 December. We would like to thank them for their commitment to our members in stewarding the organisation through a challenging three years. Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou (L to R): Debby Sutton (Board member 2015-2022), Maik Kilioni, Dr Denise Blake, Selina Elkington (2008-2022), Suzy Morrison (2017-2022), [...]
a Q&A with Ashley Koning
We took a moment to catch up with Ashley Koning, recently retired programme lead and principal advisor for addiction at Te Pou, shortly before he said his formal farewells to the addiction sector in early September 2022. This interview is for members' only. You may need to enter your password again to access. dapaanz: We know it’s not all about us Ashley, but given [...]
Award Winners – Cutting Edge 2022
Cutting Edge | Te toka tū moana was held in Ōtautahi | Christchurch on 1-3 September 2022. Each year at Cutting Edge, we recognise members of the addiction workforce, nominated by their peers, for the contribution they make to their sector, to their organisations and to support tāngata whai ora. Congratulations to our 2022 awards winners! 2022 Cutting Edge awards 2022 Best Abstract Shirleen Prasad, Kelly Feng, Dr [...]
Cutting Edge 2022
Cutting Edge | Te toka tū moana was held in Ōtautahi | Christchurch on 1-3 September 2022. More than 700 people working in the addiction or allied sectors joined us at this year's Cutting Edge conference - our first since 2019. Many thanks to our conference partners Te Whatu Ora and NZ Drug Foundation, to our conference organisers Composition, all our exhibitors, our MC Julian Wilcox, invited speakers, [...]
Aotearoa Addiction Treatment Timeline
From our past use of fines, imprisonment, and prohibition to force change, to an approach of treating addiction as a health issue, this timeline (developed in 2019 for dapaanz's Cutting Edge conference in Auckland) tracks some of the events and legislation that have changed how Aotearoa New Zealand supports people living with addiction challenges.
He Ara Āwhina: Developing a framework for monitoring our mental health and wellbeing system
During March and April 2022, the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission sought feedback on He Ara Āwhina (Pathways to Support), a framework that describes what an ideal mental health and addiction system looks like. He Ara Āwhina sets out how the Commission will monitor and advocate for improvements to the mental health and addiction system, and services. The framework comprises a Te Ao Māori perspective and a Shared Perspective. [...]
Dapaanz Submission in Support of Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Bill
Aotearoa New Zealand’s public health system has been found to be fragmented, inequitable and inconsistent. The Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Bill lays the foundation for the transformation of our health system to address these issues. In December 2021, dapaanz made a submission in support of the Bill. Our submission recommended several amendments around strengthening the guarantee of independence of the Māori Health Authority, and changes to the section related to [...]