Communities Against Alcohol Harm – Advocacy, Empowerment, and Action

Established in 2017, Communities Against Alcohol Harm (CAAH) aims to minimise alcohol and gambling-related harm through advocacy, community action, fostering networks, education and training, while respecting the dual heritage of the partners of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

From its beginnings as one part-time lawyer battling to help disadvantaged communities in South Auckland by taking on pro bono cases, the organisation now operates on a national basis, working primarily in Auckland, Hamilton, and Christchurch but also responding to pleas for support from around the country. From Taupo, Gisborne, Palmerston North in the North Island, to Nelson/Tasman, West Coast, South Canterbury, Glenorchy, Dunedin, and Winton in the South Island, CAAH’s mahi is far-reaching.

“We entered the journey with the J R McKenzie Trust with a goal of engaging with five or six new areas and instead, due to a constant demand, we have almost engaged the whole country,” says Dr Grant Hewison, Secretary of CAAH.

The process of communities opposing alcohol licences is intimidating, legalistic, difficult, time-consuming, and nearly impossible without help. Very few licences are declined without a hearing and over 99% of all licences are approved. CAAH’s work lies in investigating, navigating, supporting, and advocating with communities. This has stopped new liquor stores being opened in highly deprived areas, closed down stores with poor practices, and advocated for the imposition of conditions that have lessened the negative impact of alcohol harm in certain communities. CAAH works with a range of other groups and organisations, and the team is developing networks with other organisations, such as Māori wardens, community groups, residents’ groups, councils, and others.

Dr Hewison highlights some exciting successes such as working with the population of the tiny Northland town of Ruawai to resist a new liquor store on its main highway; supporting the people of Mapua, who found the objection and hearing process impossible to navigate, to oppose the opening of two new liquor stores; and working for the first time in Palmerston North to combat two new liquor stores applications in a town saturated with them, and seeing both applications withdrawn.

“By giving communities a voice, we have raised the standard of licensing hearings and forced committees to listen to and consider community responses,” he says.

Feedback from those CAAH has supported offers the best way to understand the positive impacts that come from this work – the following comments are from Mapua residents:

“As an objector, I have been shocked at how onerous the process of objecting is, and how heavily it is weighted in favour of the applicant. I do not believe we would have been successful without CAAH and know that most communities face even more of an uphill battle against this process.”

“The applications created a lot of angst and worry within the community over a long period. Communities Against Alcohol Harm is a blessing. You may not know it, but you have brought this community together and strengthened it.” 

And this compelling comment from Dr Lynne Lane Public Health Medicine Specialist and Medical Officer of Health: “I have lost count of how many lives Dr Hewison and the team from CAAH must have saved by now through their mahi!” 

Of course, CAAH faces challenges in undertaking its mahi, many of which will be familiar to other registered charities and not-for-profits. Dr Hewison outlines some of the ways the organisation has been, and continues to be, tested.

“The ongoing high demand for support is met by our tiny team which is, at times, overwhelmed by a heavy workload. While we have operated in so many places, it has been difficult for us to set up widespread, enduring relationships, especially with churches, schools, and other such institutions. And of course, funding – trying to gain resources to continue our mahi. There is no way yet that communities can be self-sustaining in this area, and they may always need our expertise.”

Dr Liz Gordon, who acts as a CAAH community navigator and is also a practising lawyer, outlines the organisation’s future plans:

“We want to continue and complete the national rollout; continue and improve engagement with schools, churches, and others who should be working to reduce alcohol-related harm in communities; improve and strengthen our services and the law; and always, work to reduce alcohol-related harm in communities, especially with a focus on reducing serious and violent crime.”

CAAH is grateful to the support it has received from the J R McKenzie Trust and what it has enabled it to achieve.

“We have helped communities transform how they see themselves, empowered them to act on their own behalf, and reduced the availability of harmful alcohol in many communities. Let’s hope we can continue the mahi,” says Dr Gordon.