The woman who runs a drug rehab centre in west Auckland that was busted by the police last month believes her place is saving lives and calls to shut her down are wrong.
The raid saw drugs, money and guns found and a 38-year-old gang member arrested.
There were accusations the centre was a front for the gangs, but centre director Matilda Kahotea said it is nothing of the sort. She told The Hui she had no idea any drugs were on the property.
Kohatea is the mother of three Head Hunter gang members.
A former kohanga reo teacher, Kohatea started the rehab after losing a son at a young age to violence. She said Ngā Kete Wānanga Solutions is a healing space.
"These are our people. We are trying to help. We don't see the patch on the back. Those are our sons. Those are our fathers. Those are our grandfathers. Those are our nephews. I'm helping our people."
The men at the centre undergo three months of intense therapy. They do 21 courses including the 12-step program for addiction, parenting courses and anger management.
When asked how her place differs from other drug rehabilitation centres, Kohatea told the Hui: "Everything we do here is - all our values around tikanga Māori, everything we deliver here. I believe our tikanga Māori values make a heck of a difference to these men."
Levi Tapara recently graduated from the course and said the centre worked wonders for him.
"I'm six months drug-free from meth and I've got to [becoming] employed. I'm making positive changes towards my family and my kids."
He said calls to close down the centre are wrong.
"It's a big mistake, we all have to live in the community".
For many, this rehab is their last chance. Richard Hakaraia applied to 10 other facilities but was turned down because of his serious criminal convictions. He has struggled with addiction since he was 12 but is now nearly two years clean.
He said he was gutted by the recent arrest but sometimes people trying to get clean will slip up and fall back into bad habits.
Kahotea said the arrest was incredibly disappointing but she has learned from the experience and is determined to carry out helping men struggling with addiction.
"I can't save everybody. I believed I could. I suppose I did what I love to save every guy that comes through here. But I've just been, you know, taught a big lesson. I can't, but I'm still going to have that belief," she said.
Made with support from Te Māngai Pāho and the Public Interest Journalism Fund.
