In June 2016, the dapaanz board agreed to strengthen our response and approach to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. This was done not just in acknowledgement of the mana status of Māori, and commitment to increase Māori participation in leadership; but additionally, in acknowledgment of Māori as a key partner in the vision for the advancement of dapaanz and the addiction sector.
Through 2025, led by our Pou Rautaki, in consultation with our Board, dapaanz revised and updated Te Kōwhao | dapaanz Tiriti o Waitangi policy. This important kaupapa reaffirms our commitment to Te Tiriti and to our Māori membership. It lays a foundation for our collective mahi.
Te Kōwhao (2026) sits alongside Tikanga Matatika | the dapaanz Code of Ethics, Te Anga Pūkenga | Addiction Intervention Competency Framework and Aronui | Supervision Guide as a foundational and guiding document for the organisation and for the addiction workforce.
Te Kōwhao reflects who we are as a professional body and our shared responsibility to support a just, effective and Tiriti-honouring addiction system for everyone.
The purpose of Te Kōwhao is to:
- Guide and inspire dapaanz and its members to honour and incorporate the obligations and responsibilities of Te Tiriti of Waitangi in their everyday mahi
- Encourage a sense of kotahitanga, of togetherness across the addiction workforce, and for all dapaanz members see this policy as a representation of who they are and what they bring to their addiction practice
- Create a foundation for decolonising and indigenising what we do as an organisation and as addiction practitioners, with a focus on enabling inclusivity for all.
Te Kowhao is a bridge for Maori and non-Maori to engage with each other in practice and application.
A bridge that allows us to walk together with simplicity as partners of Te Tiriti and as a living example of Kotahitanga.
2026 learning programme
During 2026, dapaanz is offering members various opportunities to deepen their understanding of Te Kōwhao and consider different ways to implement Tiriti-informed practice.
In April, we hosted the first of a new discussion series He whitiwhiti kōrero online. Chaired by our Pou Rautaki, Rāwiri Ihimaera, this whitiwhiti kōrero featured four Rangatira from the addiction sector reflecting on Te Kōwhao and sharing with us how Te Tiriti informs their day-to-day mahi. Members can view the session in our online learning hub.