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Community Action. Nā, Trina Baggett.

The CAYAD National Programme

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CAYAD whānau at the 2025 National Hui

The CAYAD Vision, Mission
In 2016, following workshops and rich discussions, the CAYAD vision and mission was agreed.

We live the Uara Values of our kaupapa
In 2021, following rich discussions the CAYAD Uara Values were agreed. The presentation describes what the values mean to us all. It's important that each person identifies their why for the mahi. It is from there we are able to draw inspiration and energy for our own mahi and our collective mahi. Acknowledgement must be given to Kyra Clarke from Threaded Magazine for her incredible work on both the CAYAD website, the Vision & Mission poster and the Values poster.

The CAYAD National Programme

The expansion of the programme from six to twenty sites, has been the result of a number of factors: CAYAD practitioners with community credibility, effective community action practice and collaboration at the community level; input, co-ordination and support from the National Co-ordination service; support from CAYAD provider organisations, funders and champions in positions of influence. CAYAD has been fortunate to have been regularly evaluated, and this process and impact data has supported the ongoing resourcing of the programme by Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand.

There is detailed information on the CAYAD website about the programme and new staff are encouraged to go to www.cayad.org.nz

When exploring the Resources section of the website, there is a Staff Zone (this is not for sharing and only for internal use by CAYAD kaimahi or managers), the password is ako. 

Intention and Rationale for CAYAD Programme

Health Outcomes 

  • Increased community ownership and capability to address alcohol and drug related issues 

  • Reduced alcohol and other drug related harm 

  • Improved health and wellbeing of New Zealanders 

CAYAD Programme Objectives (short to medium term)

  1. Increased informed community discussion and debate about issues related to alcohol and other drugs;

  2. Effective policies and practices to reduce alcohol and other drug related harm adopted;

  3. Increased local capacity to support young people in education, employment and recreation 

  4. Reduced supply of alcohol and other drugs to young people.

Population Served

CAYAD sites serve high need communities in their local region.

As a national programme, CAYAD contributes to the following population outcomes:

  • New Zealanders live longer, healthier and more independent lives

  • Maori live longer, healthier and more independent lives

  • New Zealanders have equitable health status

In relation to these outcomes, Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand monitors specific population indicators:

  • Hazardous drinking score (AUDIT) in past-year drinkers aged 15 years and over

  • Age of onset of alcohol and drug use

Rationale 

It is widely acknowledged that alcohol and other drug use by young people in New Zealand is a major issue impacting the health, education and future employment prospects of young people.   

The National Drug Policy 2015 to 2020 (Inter-Agency Committee on Drugs, 2015) identifies that the early use of drugs and/or alcohol may interrupt important neurological processes and natural brain maturation, and is a predictor for ongoing problems, including substance use and dependence.  One of the key objectives of the National Drug Policy is to delay the uptake of alcohol and other drug use by young people. 

Over recent years the Government and crown agencies have highlighted the reduction of alcohol and drug related harm in youth as a priority in a number of policy processes:

  • The National Drug Policy 2015 to 2020

  • Government Inquiry into Mental Health and Addictions 

  • Prime Ministers Youth Mental Health Project

For more information on youth alcohol and other drug trends and approaches to harm interventions please refer to the following websites. This list is not exhaustive, more information is held on the CAYAD website. Please contact the National Coordination Team if you would like assistance finding more specific information.

Organisations and links to websites:

Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand - https://www.tewhatuora.govt.nz/

Government Inquiry into Mental Health and Addictions

Child Youth Wellbeing Strategy - https://www.childyouthwellbeing.govt.nz/

Ball, J et al. “Long-term trends in adolescent alcohol, tobacco and cannabis use and emerging substance use issues in Aotearoa New Zealand” (2022).
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03036758.2022.2060266

Alcohol Healthwatch - https://www.ahw.org.nz/       
Actionpoint - https://www.actionpoint.org.nz/
Health Coalition Aotearoa - https://www.healthcoalition.org.nz/health-issues/alcohol/
Te Rau Ora - https://terauora.com/rangatahi-ora/
Amohia Te Waiora - https://www.alcohol.org.nz/
New Zealand Drug Foundation - https://www.drugfoundation.org.nz/ 
Tūturu - https://tuturu.org.nz/what-is-tuturu/

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