Hīkoi to raise awareness about P in Rotorua

Photo / File

A local action group is taking to the streets in Rotorua this weekend to raise awareness about the dangers of methamphetamine.

The Rotorua Methamphetamine Awareness Group Rotorua is to march from the Lakefront on Saturday morning to Kuirau Park in a bid to raise the issue of methamphetamine, or P, in the city.

Action group spokesman Paulie Khan said the group would meet at the small stage at the QE end of the Village Green at the Rotorua Lakefront at 9am and would set off on the hīkoi at 10am.

Anyone wanting to take part were also welcome to bring along banners of support, he said.

Khan said the anti-meth hīkoi aimed to help whānau dealing with issues of methamphetamine as well as current or recovering addicts.

He said one of the biggest issues was a lack of residential facilities or adequate rehabilitation facilities to deal with the growing problem.

"It's estimated half of our jail population are drug addicts so we should take away the money used to keep them in jail and instead put that towards getting the help they needed."

Khan said the hīkoi would go from the Lakefront to Eat Streat, Tutanekai St, Pukuatua St and to Kuirau Park where they would have a kōrero (talk) for about half an hour before heading back to the Lakefront for a sausage sizzle.