Stellar Trust benficiary from Seafood Festival
2009-05-27 16:13:39
28 January 2009
Seafood festival supports Stellar Trust P campaign.
The 2009 Auckland Seafood Festival was held on Auckland Anniversary weekend, run by Rotary Club of Auckland East and Sanford Ltd. A record crowd on 18000 enjoyed three days of sunshine to sample a wide range of Seafood, Wine and Beer.
A new feature of the annual festival, now in its third year, was the Competition Stage, with fishing games, fish raffles and entertainment hosted by the TRN Radio Stations.
“The proceeds from the event will greatly assist our clubs ‘Rise Above P’ anti drug campaign run in conjunction with The Stellar Trust”, says President of Auckland East Rotary, Rae Ah Chee. “Our club has started an initiative to raise the profile of the P issue, in our society. We are committed to raising funds to help educate our youth against the perils of P so they will Rise above P. This year’s proceeds will be donated to The Stellar Trust, run by our club, to assist with their campaign”
Rotary gift helps war on P
2009-06-25 17:49:59
A Rotary club has donated funds to buy six protective suits for St John Ambulance officers to use during drug operations. Auckland East Rotary Club last night gave $4000 to the St John Special Emergency Response Team to enable them to buy six Thermopro suits.
St John response team leader Paul Dillon said his team was often called out to help the police during drug operations. P labs, where methamphetamine is cooked, contain toxic chemicals which can be potentially poisonous or explosive. Last year, police raided 115 P labs, and 190 in 2007. About 1300 have been found in the past 10 years.
Mr Dillon said the new suits were of a better quality then existing ones. The coveralls protect against toxic chemicals for up to an hour and are fire resistant. The suits will protect the team from gas and chemicals which can cause respiratory problems, nerve damage and burns, he said.
"They're a lot more reusable and protect against more chemicals. Previous suits could melt a lot quicker."
The donation coincides with St John's Flash a Light appeal to the public, which was launched to close its funding shortfall, expected to be $12 million.
Anouncement Stellar Trust NZ Herald
2009-05-26 12:18:43
Celebrity-backed group takes on country's P epidemic
NZ Herald 4:00AM Saturday Mar 21, 2009
An organisation has been established to tackle New Zealand's dubious reputation as one of the biggest P-using nations in the world.
The Stellar Trust, formed by a group of Auckland Rotary Club members, aims to fight methamphetamine use by raising awareness of the drug and educating young people.
It plans to kick off with a black-tie fundraising dinner at SkyCity, featuring a celebrity roast of broadcaster Paul Holmes, whose daughter Millie has struggled with P addiction.
Trust chairman Alistair Burry said many people assumed P did not affect their lives but it was widely used by professional people and across all income groups.
"All the family violence that you see, all those poor babies and young kids that are being bashed. You'll find that nine times out of ten there's P in the home or in the environment.
"How long is this country going to allow this kind of thing to continue?
"It's an issue that has been under the carpet and maybe it's time that it was brought out into the open."
Mr Burry said the trust started when his Auckland East Rotary Club wanted to donate money to a P-related cause but struggled to find one.
They spoke to Holmes, who told them about his anguish over Millie's P addiction and the difficulties of finding treatment.
Holmes put the trust in touch with Mike Sabin, a former policeman who now works and campaigns full time against the spread of P.
Mr Sabin has calculated New Zealand's meth use as the highest per capita in the world.
The trust has Principal Family Court judge Peter Boshier as its patron and an advisory board including former Auckland Grammar School headmaster John Graham and Auckland Crown Solicitor Simon Moore.
Children found Living in P Lab
2009-04-18 20:07:54
Police raiding a Lower Hutt house for a 28-year-old man early missed their quarry - instead finding laboratories for making cannabis oil and methamphetamine.
Police Sergeant Michael Sarten said the raiding officers also found a woman and her four-year-old son living in the same room as the glassware and piles of chemicals used to make meth.
A fresh batch of cannabis oil and the equipment used to make it were found in another room, he said. Officers seized the labs.
Firefighters decontaminated the woman and child in a system of showers before police interviewed them. The pair were then sent to stay with relatives. Source - TVNZ
SkyCity proud to Support Stellar Trust Fund Raising Event
2009-04-23 22:51:04
Wednesday, 22 April, 2009 - 13:43
A host of New Zealand's top personalities will come together on 16 May at the SKYCITY Convention Centre to raise money for the newly formed Stellar Trust, leading the way in the fight against P in New Zealand.
Established in November 2008 by The Rotary Club of Auckland East, this is the first major fundraising initiative for the charity. Funds raised will go towards providing education, training programmes and creating awareness of the RISE ABOVE P campaign.
Well known media personality Paul Holmes says: "New Zealand is top of the leaderboard worldwide for use of crystal methamphetamine ("P") and this is certainly one that we don't want to be winning. I know first hand that this drug can tear apart families and communities. The work of the Stellar Trust is vital in the campaign against "P.""
The inaugural Stellar Trust Dinner will feature Tim Shadbolt, Gary McCormick, Ginette McDonald, Tom Scott, Jim Hopkins and host Simon Dallow in a night of fun including a Paul Holmes 'Roast'.
SKYCITY CEO Nigel Morrison says they are proud to be supporting the Stellar Trust and The Rotary Club of Auckland East in their endeavours through this event. "Substance abuse causes irreparable harm at all levels of society and we want to play our part in eliminating it from our communities."
More News about Meth
2009-05-07 22:18:17
Evacuation as police deal with P-lab
2009-05-07 22:19:36
5:41PM Thursday May 07, 2009
A number of people were evacuated or ordered to stay inside as police tried to clean up a clandestine drug laboratory on Auckland's North Shore this morning.
Several roads were blocked off as police and the fire service found the laboratory, which was believed to be inside a van.
A police communications centre spokesman said precautions were being taken as police were dealing with a chemical clearance.
Clandestine laboratories manufacturing methamphetamine, or P, have proved dangerous in the past.
- NZPA
Two jailed for 30 years for supplying drugs
2009-05-09 00:16:01
11:57AM Friday May 08, 2009
Two men charged with the supply of more than $5 million worth of methamphetamine have been sentenced to a total of 30 years in prison.
Chen Wei Huang, 25, and Zhong Wei, 26, were arrested in December 2006 following a year-long investigation. Both were sentenced today to 15 years in jail, with no minimum term.
Taiwan national Huang pleaded not guilty and was convicted by a jury in February on six charges of supplying methamphetamine in October 2006.
Sentencing Huang, Justice Peter Woodhouse said he did not accept he was a middle man.
"You had a significant hand in initiating drug dealing. You handled large sums of money and you played a very important role well beyond that of a courier," Justice Woodhouse said.
- NZPA
Recovery rate of P Addicts only 3-4% ... says Holmes
2009-05-15 18:31:04
source TVNZ
On Saturday broadcaster Paul Holmes is hosting a black-tie charity event to raise funds for the fight against methamphetamine.
For Holmes, this is an issue that cuts close to the bone as his own daughter has had a high-profile struggle with P addiction.
The charity event is a celebrity roasting in which Holmes is the target. It gives guests the chance to have a go at Holmes or "roast" him on whatever issues they choose.
It has been years since Holmes has been roasted and he says, "I don't particularly want to be roasted again because it's quite a savage experience as a matter of fact and I'm not particularly good at replying but it's all in a good cause and some of the great old speakers are appearing."
It is being run by the Steller Trust, a group which has formed in Auckland to try and do something about pure methamphetamine.
The Trust includes eminent people such as the Reverend of the Holy Trinity in Auckland Ross Bay, Radio Network general manager Bill Francis, Detective Inspector Bruce Good, former headmaster of Auckland Grammar John Graham and Crown Prosecutor Simon Moore.
Years ago warnings were issued by people saying P was going to be an enormous problem and funding needed to be put into place to stop it.
At the same time funding was reduced by the government for the fight against drugs like P.
"I think those times have past," says Holmes.
"I think also some of the people working in the industry of drug awareness have got it wrong. We have a policy in New Zealand of harm minimisation, harm reduction where if you go onto a drug advisory website they will show you how to use P safely."
Increasingly people are questioning this, Holmes says.
"This might have been fine 10 years ago because basically that policy says drugs are here and we have to deal with them and know how to use them safely but we know now there is no safe use of pure methamphetamine, it is a terrible problem, it is a tragedy for young people, it is a tragedy for families."
Holmes says the significant thing about the Steller Trust is that it brings together people across different areas that deal with the effects of drug abuse.
The main purpose of the fundraiser Holmes says is to simply create awareness of the problem and make sure that people across the board in our community realise we have something really destructive on our hands.
He says people just don't know.
"Unless you have had real experience of a family member who has spiralled downwards because of methamphetamine you don't know the pernicious, evilness of this drug. The way it affects not only the person who is addicted but the family member as well, the brothers, fathers, mothers, it's just awful," Holmes says.
When asked if he can see the day where methamphetamine is behind his daughter Millie, Holmes says "God I hope so".
Holmes says in P addiction there is something like a 4-5% recover rate.
"That's what we are up against and that why we've got to do something."
He says it is a drug that is across all ages and all parts of society.
"It takes no prisoners this drug."
Holmes will talk a bit about what he knows about the drug from a personal point of view during the fundraiser on Saturday night.
Beatles, Ali help in fight against P
2009-05-19 19:53:29
NZ Herald
A guitar signed by two Beatles and a boxing glove with Muhammad Ali's signature on it are helping in the fight against P.
They were two of the items auctioned at a charity event pn Saturday run by the Stellar Trust, a group formed by Rotarians in Auckland to try to take the drug out of New Zealand. It raised $65,000.
Paul Holmes, whose daughter Millie has had a high-profile battle with pure methamphetamine, hosted the dinner, which was attended by 370 people at the SkyCity Convention Centre.
Stellar Trust spokesman Paul La Franchie said Holmes spoke briefly about his daughter being addicted to the drug.
"It was more on the effect P has had on them as a family. He didn't go into depth on her present situation."
Crown Solicitor Simon Moore, SC, and anti-drugs campaigner Mike Sabin also spoke about the harmful effects of the drug.
A guitar signed by Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr reached more than $10,000 in the auction. A luxury weekend playing golf at The Hills and Jacks Point in Queenstown reached $6000.
The funds from the auction and ticket sales will go towards providing education and training programmes and creating awareness of the trust's Rise Above P campaign.
Paul Holmes on Millie's drug addiction, celebrity friends and his hero...
2009-05-22 21:55:05
He's become the self-appointed face of P, our Obama of sorts, who can bring hope to families like his struggling with children hooked on pure methamphetamine. But reluctant hero Paul Holmes credits his wife Deborah with being his champion.
"Before my daughter's first arrest", Holmes confided in the Hawke's Bay Today, "our home had been an abusive one, a home of unbelievable tantrums, sudden irrational arguments and the disappearance of nearly everything valuable we treasured. Wedding presents all went, watches went... it was a befuddling, hopelessly incomprehensible period, those few years. They nearly broke our marriage, but we decided, Deborah and I, somewhere in the awful middle of it, that we would not let it. Deborah, for sticking in there, is my hero."
Millie's problems with P have made media headlines for the past two years. Just this week, she was remanded on bail for three drugs charges and one of shoplifting. She denies all the charges. Millie, who turned 21 yesterday, reportedly had a $1000-a-day P habit in 2007. Holmes says to substantiate this level of abuse, "you're probably stealing nearly $2500 of property a month to pay for it".
Last Saturday night, the broadcasting legend spoke at a swanky black-tie dinner held for the Stellar Trust. Holmes says the charity developed out of a conversation he had about a year ago with a businessman friend who took him for a coffee and told him the Eastern Bays Rotary Club was looking for a cause. He asked if Holmes thought P was a good cause. Holmes said it was the best cause possible and he would do anything to help.
"Next thing," Holmesy says, "these Rotary guys have put together a trust of impressive, significant people from across the disciplines. They asked, would I speak at the dinner and put my face out there for the battle? Most certainly, I said."
Chief Family Court Judge Peter Boshier is the charity's patron, and trustees include Judge Mick Brown, Auckland Crown Prosecutor Simon Moore and former Auckland Grammar principal John Graham.
The highlight of the Stellar Trust dinner was the roast given to Holmesy delivered by Jim Hopkins, Tim Shadbolt, Gary McCormick, Tom Scott and Ginette McDonald, who lifted a famous line from the wordsmith Stephen Fry and ascribed it to David Lange, describing having coitus with the former PM would be more akin to having a wardrobe fall on top of you with the key sticking out.
John Banks was there, so too was Winston Peters, Jenny and Burton Shipley, and Mayor Len Brown. But Holmes was most moved when the Tainui tribe bought a table at the last minute and the Maori King Tuheitia attended. "He was charming, gracious and charismatic", Holmes said, "and it meant so much to us that he was there."
Govt considering way to deal with 'P' problem, says Key
2009-05-27 16:14:56
7:57PM Monday May 25, 2009 NZPA
The Government is looking at a wide range of measures it could take to get on top of the methamphetamine problem, Prime Minister John Key says.....
"I do sense there's a really strong desire from the community for the Government to show some leadership...it's a $1.5 billion problem, it's wrecking lives and it's wrecking families," he said at his post-cabinet press conference today.
"As a parent I can tell you...obviously you worry about your children."
Mr Key said the first issue the Government was considering was precursors, the chemicals that are used to make the drug which is known as `P'.
He said he was going to ask his newly-appointed science adviser, Professor Peter Gluckman, whether it would be possible to eliminate pseudoephedrine from the manufacture of cold tablets.
Pseudoephedrine is a main precursor for methamphetamine and can be distilled from cold tablets.
"I think it's a little early to say we can do that, but it's my understanding some US states have taken that action and certainly let's look at the options available," he said. "If we're going to seriously get on top of P we need to take a holistic and liberal approach, it's not one single thing in isolation that's going to solve the problem."
Mr Key said rehabilitation for methamphetamine victims was also important.
"There's a number of things we're working on, it's largely being coordinated out of my office and in due course I'll have more to say about it."
- NZPA
Stellar Trust Supports Pseudoephedrine Ban
2009-08-18 15:50:17
Stellar Trust Supports Pseudoephedrine Ban
Any steps to make methamphetamine (P) harder to manufacture or procure should be welcomed says the anti-P campaign group, the Stellar Trust.
Trust Chairman Alistair Burry said the Government should act quickly to follow through on a recommendation from Dr Peter Gluckman, the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Adviser, to ban the P pre-cursor drug from all but prescription or hospital treatments.
“When you see the toll P takes on addicts, their families, friends and work mates, then any step that makes this terrible drug more difficult to make and obtain should be encouraged and implemented sooner rather than later,” says Mr Burry.
“The Trust acknowledges the very good work that pharmacists and others have undertaken to restrict access to over-the-counter medicines that contain pseudoephedrine, but taking the next step to ban these medications seems to be the next logical move in the fight against this insidious and highly addictive drug.”
Mr Burry said the Stellar Trust had been formed to both educate communities about the dangers of P and provide help, but also to shift Local and Government policy on minimising the harm the drug causes in New Zealand.
“With that policy focus in mind we’d urge the Government to introduce this measure.
“I’m sure there will be those that argue the wider problem is the ongoing illegal importation of pre-cursor drugs in bulk and that is a larger problem.
“But access to these pre-cursor drugs through pharmacies continues to provide illegal drug manufacturers with a source of their ingredients and continues to threaten the security of those pharmacies and their staff.
“Dr Gluckman’s recommendation will go some way to alleviating those problems at minimal inconvenience to those suffering from heavy colds.”
High Profile Duo Join Stellar Trust in Fight Against P
2009-08-29 09:56:07
Former Labour Party President Mike Williams and broadcasting star Paul Holmes have joined the Stellar Trust’s fight against the damage being caused in New Zealand by methamphetamine (P).
Mike Williams has added his considerable fund raising and organisational skills to fill the newly created role of Chief Executive of the Trust while Paul Holmes will formalise his association with the Trust and become its official ambassador.
“I think many people already associated Paul with our organisation while recruiting someone of Mike’s calibre will give us the impetus we need to continue our successful fund raising and begin implementing our planned educational campaigns about the damages and threat of P in our communities,” says Trust Chairman Alistair Burry.
“Our first two fund raising ventures, the Paul Holmes Roast and the Pure Indulgence cook book have given us profile and a good start to our funding but Mike has a great list of contacts and a successful background in securing considerable funds. We have set him some very ambitious targets for funding to ensure we have the capability to eventually introduce nationwide programmes aimed at schools, the wider community and business organisations.
“Our aim is to help stop the damage that P creates in our communities by helping schools and other organisations recognise and accept the dangers of P, help people they know who are affected , and help stop the problems this insidious drug is causing within our society.”
Mr Burry said discussions with Williams and Holmes were all but completed and their appointments would give profile and impetus to the Trust’s programmes.
Mr Williams said he was looking forward to adding his experience to achieving the Trust’s goals.
“I’ve seen first-hand the damage and pain this drug has caused to my good friend Paul Holmes and his family. It seems many people I talk to these days either have some personal experience of the damage this drug causes or they know someone close to them who has been affected,” says Mr Williams.
“This drug has gone from nowhere to being one of the most dangerous criminal issues in the country. But it is also inflicting considerable pain across all sectors of our society. I’m still coming up to speed on the scale of the problems and how to treat P addictions but there is no doubt in my mind we need to stop the problems it is causing.”
Paul Holmes said formalising an arrangement with the Trust was more than just a personal crusade.
“Through our own family issues I’ve met many people in similar or worse positions than my family. If adding my name to the cause does more to educate and help those people and perhaps influence lawmakers, then that is a good thing for our society.
“Make no mistake this is an evil, highly addictive, very destructive problem we face.”
Mr Burry said Mr Williams role was official from September 1 with the Trust holding a trial school education programme a week later.
“As well as programmes aimed at education and offering help to those affected by P, the Trust is also aiming to influence Central and Local Government policy on stopping the damage caused by P,” said Mr Burry.
“We also have plans for a major media campaign that will make people stop and think about what a terrible problem we face in New Zealand from the ravages of P. New Zealand is the worst affected, highest per capita user of P, in the world. That’s a record we must end.”
Customs seizes $7m of P
2009-09-04 22:03:55
6:00PM Friday Sep 04, 2009
A customs operation in Auckland has seized $7 million worth of methamphetamine, or P, in its last two weeks.
The New Zealand Customs Service had been targeting organised crime syndicates who imported pseudoephedrine. Officers made a total of 26 interceptions recovering more than 46kg of the drug, which if processed into P had a street value of at least $7 million, Customs drug investigations manager Bruce Berry said.
The drug was mostly in the form of the Chinese cold and flu medication, ContacNT. Seven people had been arrested and were facing charges including importation and possession for supply of the drug, Mr Berry said.
"The number of interceptions being made at the border continues to rise and there is little doubt that all of the intercepted pseudoephedrine was going to be used to manufacture methamphetamine. "
These importations are coordinated by organised crime syndicates that are in this for the money and have no thought for the impact these drugs have on our community as a whole."
One tactic groups used was to have the drugs delivered by mail or courier to properties or rooms rented exclusively for that purpose, Mr Berry said.
"We encourage landlords who are subletting rooms or accommodation to ensure they seek sufficient identification and contact details to protect themselves from being drawn unnecessarily into our investigations."
He asked for people to report suspicious activity to Customs.
- NZPA
Stellar Trust Welcomes Government Initative
2009-10-08 15:00:53
Tougher Government measures aimed at squeezing the supply of methamphetamine and greater availability of preventative services and rehabilitation treatments were today welcomed by anti-P campaign group, the Stellar Trust.
Trust Chairman Alistair Burry said today’s announcement by Prime Minister John Key was a significant step in the ongoing campaign to stop the damage being caused by P throughout New Zealand society.
“We’re still going through the detail of the announcements but it’s clear the Government is making a strong commitment in several key areas to prevent the flow of this drug into our society, to help those unfortunate enough to already be caught in its grasp, and to help those working in our schools and communities to get the anti-P message through,” said Mr Burry.
“Having just worked through our own pilot programmes in schools, our organisation is particularly interested in how we can use this latest Government initiative to drive more anti-P messaging into schools, workplaces and the wider communities and prevent more damage being caused by this drug,”.
Mr Burry said the appeal of the Government’s initiative was its aim to tackle P on many fronts at the same time and bring a sense of co-ordination and accountability to preventing the widespread harm it caused.
“I understand there may be some concerns about the move to make pseudoephedrine a prescription only drug. But when you consider a third of all meth labs found by police are using locally sourced precursors and that there are alternative medicines available, the Trust feels this is a reasonable step for a comparatively small inconvenience to the public.
“It is also great to see the police and customs being given more resources, funding and powers to tackle those importing precursors and dominating the supply chain of this nasty and highly addictive drug.
“The Stellar Trusts focus is on education to prevent people in our communities from getting hooked into this drug so we are very pleased to see this area also being given greater support. Detail on this section is still a little light but the intention to give more co-ordination and resources to these efforts and instil greater accountability on the organisations and Ministries co-ordinating and delivering these services can only be a good thing.
“The many parents, family members, work mates, whanau and friends who have seen people they know and love fall victim to this drug, and who have suffered with them, will especially welcome the extra resources going into treatment and rehabilitation.”
However, Mr Burry warned that this latest sweep of Government measures could only be regarded as a significant step in tackling the damage caused by P.
“I think Mr Key and his Government are to be congratulated on acknowledging the seriousness and depth on the problem. The level of commitment to tackling the issues caused by P is a welcome change to policy. But it is a commitment that will need to be continued and all these measures will have to be continually evaluated and reassessed for their effectiveness.”
2009-11-09 22:58:14
9th November, 2009
Education on P Dangers Should Start Early
Almost 60 percent of New Zealanders believe education about the dangers posed by pure methamphetamine (P) use and addiction should start as early as primary and intermediate school level.
The scale of the P problem in New Zealand and New Zealanders’ desire to counter the epidemic is clearly defined in national poll commissioned by the Stellar Trust, one of the organisations working to reduce the influence and impact of the drug on communities.
“The results from the Perceptive Research survey are quite stunning, particularly in defining the ages where New Zealanders believe education about this terrible drug should begin,” says Stellar Trust Chairman, Alistair Burry.
“I would have to say we were a little surprised by the Perceptive results that showed 24 percent of New Zealanders believed late primary school was the right place to target education initiatives, with another 35 percent recommending intermediate school level.
“In all 94 percent of New Zealanders felt education about the dangers of P should be targeted at pupils no later than their early high school years. That shows to me just how worried people are about the insidious influence of this drug.”
Mr Burry said the survey had been commissioned to try and gauge the influence and impact of P on the lives of New Zealanders and to assess where the Stellar Trust should be targeting its programmes.
“Slightly more than one in five New Zealanders (22 percent) have a family member or know someone through friends or the workplace who has been addicted to or affected by this drug with 20% of those affected being a direct family member.
“Equally as disturbing is that almost one in five New Zealanders (17 percent) have been the victim of or know someone who has been the victim of a P-related crime. That really shows the depth of the problem we are trying to overcome and beat in our society.”
The survey also looked at the question of the recent Government decision stopping over the counter sales of pseudoephedrine in New Zealand and found 83% of New Zealanders supported that policy on the basis that it may stop a P fuelled crime or save an innocent person.
“The focus seemed to go on that one measure announced in the Government’s recent comprehensive package to combat the influence of P so we thought we’d test the public’s appetite for what initially appeared to be a measure of mixed popularity,” said Mr Burry.
“I think that result shows the public gets the need to introduce measures to choke off the flow of ingredients to the manufacturers.
“When you add in proposals to stop access to ingredients at our international borders, cut the supply and distribution chains, and provide more help and education to those already caught up by addiction and those at risk of trying the drug, that policy announcement was wide ranging and we look forward to the Trust playing its support role in providing assistance to the Community.”
Trust Ambassador nominated for New Zealander of the Year
2009-12-05 07:49:35
PAUL HOLMES
FOR HELPING SMASH DOWN BARRIERS IN THE WAR ON P
For years we knew Paul Holmes from the television, or the radio over breakfast. This year we have heard a different Holmes - a frontline advocate in the battle against P.
He made a documentary, Chasing the Ghost, about the destructive impact of methamphetamine, spoke and wrote passionately as an ambassador for the Stellar Trust, an anti-P charity and, closer to home, endured discomfort as his daughter Millie Elder's public battles with the drug went through the courts again. "When our family's difficulties became public I heard from so many other people. I got harrowing email after email. They were saying this drug is everywhere. It doesn't discriminate on age, social standing, where you come from."
After Millie's arrest, Holmes felt that he could use his profile to speak out and possibly make a difference "but certainly create more awareness of the ravages of P."
Holmes says he took up the fight "because of the size of the enemy and the power of the drug. It destroys talent, conscience, human feelings and relationships".
He also got involved "because I came to realise how widespread it is and how evil the people are behind it making money from others' lives".
"In our house we call it the invisible drug or the terrorist drug. Families are at its mercy. You simply don't know it's taken up quarters in your house until it's too late. That's the awful thing about it."
The broadcaster says he is in the fight against P for the long haul and was heartened when the Government took steps against the drug.
"For 10 years we really did nothing. Now if we can stop the precursors at the border we have a chance."
So far as users go, Holmes says no one can do anything until the person using the P wants to do something themselves.
"In the meantime you just have to watch and endure."
He is hopeful: "What is really going to threaten the P trade is if we keep pointing out to kids how uncool the drug is. If we can go into the schools and raise awareness then we might have an impact on those who haven't tried it. It's not too late."
- Andrew Stone, NZ Herald 5th December 2009
PM: Seizures show Govt ‘P' plan is working
2009-12-07 22:49:02
Prime Minister John Key today welcomed significant results achieved just weeks after announcing the Government's plan to tackle the dangerous drug ‘P".
"In early October I outlined the National Government's plan to tackle the menace that is ‘P'. The Government Plan on Methamphetamine included a range of initiatives involving various agencies like Police and Customs.
"This seriously addictive drug is ruining lives and costing society. Part of our approach has been to attack the supply chain of this drug," says Mr Key.
"In an intensive period from the start of October through to November, Customs intercepted a total of 230kgs of methamphetamine precursor pseudoephedrine at the border, compared with 67kgs over the same period last year. Fifteen arrests were also made.
"The 230kgs seized has come in a large number of interceptions of smaller amounts of the precursor, not through one or a small number of large hauls.
"The amount seized in that period is more than three times as much as was seized in the same period last year.
"Customs advises that this is the most successful eight weeks on record, stopping what would have been an estimated $84 million worth of ‘P' hitting the streets with all the consequent harm that causes.
"The success so far from these interceptions is evident not just in the amounts being seized, but also anecdotal evidence that the price of the drug has increased on the streets.
"Part of the Government Action Plan involved the redeployment of up to 40 Customs staff from other duties to aid in the effort.
"More than 140 Customs staff are involved now, and criminals should be warned that Government agencies, including Customs, will be maintaining the pressure.
"The plan announced in October attacked the ‘P' problem from all directions -cracking down on precursors, breaking supply chains, providing better routes to treatment, supporting families, and strengthening leadership and accountability.
"The Government will not let up in its efforts to target the ‘P' trade, which is causing so much harm to society. We will continue our approach, and look at new equipment, new tactics, and new ways to combat the trade."
For details on the Government Action Plan on Methamphetamine, see:
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/pm+outlines+national+govt039s+plan+fight+%e2%80%98p039
Police clamp down on drugs trade
2010-01-06 16:02:11
1:23 PM Wednesday Jan 6, 2010
Police are targeting criminals in the drugs trade as part of a clampdown on methamphetamine and drug trafficking.
Police national crime manager Detective Superintendent Win Van der Velde said the increased focus followed a series of operations targeting methamphetamine manufacturers and distributors in the last two months of 2009.
More than 380 staff worked on 12 operations across the country, which resulted in nearly 400 arrests for drug-related offences and the discovery of hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of methamphetamine, cannabis, stolen property and property obtained as the result of criminal activity.
Police recovered a large number of firearms, thousands of dollars worth of stolen goods including vehicles, computers and electrical equipment and assets gained from criminal activity.
"In December alone, provisionally 19 clan labs were discovered and dismantled, bringing the provisional total for 2009 to 137," Mr van der Velde said.
"We know that organised crime is the driving force behind the manufacture and distribution of methamphetamine.
"The work of the last few months will have disrupted organised crime networks in the illicit drugs business."
The police focus was part of a specific methamphetamine control strategy, he said.
"This is a national plan to disrupt the supply of methamphetamine, reduce methamphetamine-related crime and ensure that profits made through methamphetamine are recovered.
Police were now taking advantage of increased enforcement and legislative powers arising from the government's tougher stance against methamphetamine.
"New asset recovery legislation has strengthened our ability to divest organised criminals of the profits and assets accumulated through illegal activity and we know that a lot of those profits come from the manufacture of methamphetamine."
Last year the government announced a whole-of-government response to tackling methamphetamine. This included more stringent border control, strengthened treatment for methamphetamine addicts and increased enforcement.
'We will be maintaining this pressure over the coming months and as we move into the cannabis growing season in late autumn," Mr Van der Velde said.
- NZPA
GSK join Stellar Trust
2010-02-05 13:48:59
5 February, 2010
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare (NZ) Joins Stellar Trust in Anti-P Education Programme
The Stellar Trust’s battle against pure meth-amphetamine (P) has received significant backing with pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare (NZ) finalising its support of the Trust’s schools drug education programme.
Stellar Trust chairman, Alistair Burry welcomed GSK’s involvement with the Trust and said its support was integral to the Trust’s education programme, enabling it to reach thousands more pupils at intermediate and early high school levels.
“GSK’s support means we’ll be able to fund up to 50 school visits in the first year of the programme and we’ll look to expand that further in future years,” said Mr Burry. “But the difficulty, as it is for all charitable organisations, is finding the funding to support these programmes and GSK is generously providing that assistance.”
GSK’s New Zealand Managing Director Paul Rose, said the company had been looking for ways to support drug education in communities for some time and the calibre of the people involved in the Stellar Trust and the vision it has for “A ‘P’ Free New Zealand” was what appealed.
“I was also fortunate to see one of the Trust’s school presentations and presenter Pat Buckley was particularly powerful in the way he connected to his audience. He received dozens of texts and e-mails after that presentation that highlighted just what an impact he’d made. The Trust is very fortunate to have a presenter who connects well with students in this age group as he is very real and credible to them.
“While GSK New Zealand has a small percentage of the pseudoephedrine-based cold and flu products on the market here, when used as directed, these products are safely used to effectively treat the symptoms of colds and flu worldwide every day.
“However, P addiction is a major social issue for New Zealand and our own company has been affected by criminal activity intent on targeting our cold and flu medicines for the illegal importation and manufacturing of methamphetamine. While the law enforcement agencies we work with tell us our processes do everything possible to prevent this, we are also intent on tackling criminal activity by driving down demand for illegal drug use. We believe by supporting the Stellar Trust through an effective education programme, our young people will be aware of its devastating effects and this will help them make good choices in the future.
“While GSK manufactures a number of cold and flu medicines, including Contac NT, it does not manufacture or sell Contac NT in New Zealand.”
Mr Burry said there had been an immediate rapport between the two organisations with a shared concern about the impacts of P in New Zealand.
“GSK’s commitment is likely to expand beyond simply providing financial support and we look forward to identifying further ways to use their resources and networks in the battle against P in New Zealand.
“We know some people may misunderstand why a manufacturer of pre-cursor drugs is involved with our organisation but GSK is also targeted by criminal activity, resulting in the abuse of its products. That’s something GSK shares with so many individuals and businesses that are affected by the abuse of P in New Zealand.
“We are seeking to build a meaningful relationship with the GSK team that will begin with this drive of education into schools to turn our young people off the idea of experimenting with such a highly addictive and damaging drug.”
Mr Burry said GSK was the first major corporate supporter to join the Trust and both parties view this as a significant commitment.
“It’s a feature of our organisation that the people involved also give generously of their time and expertise and as well as giving their financial support. We have added Jacqui Barratt (Salt Recruitment)and businessman Burton Shipley to our Board of Trustees to enhance the breadth of knowledge on the Board.
“Annette Presley is also adding her extensive business knowledge and contacts to our fund raising efforts joining our CEO Mike Williams on that team. Mike was instrumental in bringing GSK to our organisation.”
Media Inquiries to:
Alistair Burry
Chairman Stellar Trust
021 500 614
