"Changing Tides"
The Matalafi plant is used by taulasea (Samoan
healer) for medicinal purposes. This
inspired Kirk Mariner to name an
assessment, matalafi matrix after the plant which became the basis
of Tuþu service’s initial Alcohol and Other Drug assessment. We used the
headings Aiga (family), Tino atoa (Physical Health), Lagona
(emotion/psychological), Fa’aleagaga (spirituality) and Aganu’u (Culture). The matalafi
matrix endeavours to capture a holistic snapshot of what was going on for the
Pacific consumer at that time of their life and its framework has underpinnings
of the Pacific biopsychosocialspiritual model.
Through power point, drama, music and art, the Tuþu
team will convey the matalafi matrix through a DRAMA of the true story of a Samoan
man who was involved in an incident in the fleamarkets of Otara 1988, where the
themes of “tuþu” (growth) and “change” resonated through his journey.
Tupu is a Pacific Island Alcohol and Drug/Gambling
service serving regional areas in the Auckland
region from Te Hana to Warkworth. We belong to the Pacific Mental Health and
Addictions Services (PMHAS) in Waitemata District Health Board. The three Pacific
teams are Tupu, Malaga
(cultural liaison/assessors) and Isa lei (Pacific mental health). We provide
support for Pacific people and their families, aiga, fanau and magafaoa who are
affected by alcohol/other drugs and gambling. Offering one to one counselling, and
group support, we focus in the areas of youth, mental health, adult/families,
early parenting, dual diagnosis, youth justice, prisons, probations and gambling. We use culture, music, drama to capture the
attention of Pacific people to connect with our service; performing drama's of
many of the real stories we face in our work.
