Alcohol and other drug (AOD) harm is one of New Zealand's most significant public health and social challenges. Alcohol alone costs NZ approximately $7.8 billion annually in crime, health, and lost productivity. Grants fund treatment, prevention, harm reduction, and community recovery. This guide covers the key funding sources.
Health system AOD funding:
- Specialist AOD services: DHB-funded residential and community treatment
- Community alcohol and drug services (CADS): Community AOD treatment
- Opioid substitution treatment: Methadone and buprenorphine programmes
- Dual diagnosis: Co-occurring mental health and AOD treatment
MSD funds community AOD support:
- Community development: AOD organisations with community development focus
- Social housing: AOD support in social housing communities
- Employment: AOD treatment enabling workforce participation
Ministry of Justice funds justice-linked AOD:
- Drug Court: Auckland, Wellington — rehabilitation as alternative to prison
- Restorative justice: AOD harm reduction through restorative approaches
- Community sentences: AOD treatment as court order
Gaming trusts CANNOT fund gambling harm services (conflict of interest), but:
- Ministry of Health: Problem gambling treatment
- Gambling harm: Funded separately through levy on gaming industry
Gaming trusts fund AOD community services (not gambling harm):
- Four Winds Foundation: AOD community support
- Grassroots Trust: Community health including AOD
- Pub Charity: Community health (note: cannot fund alcohol-specific harm)
- Lion Foundation: Community health and wellbeing
Gaming trust AOD applications:
- Residential AOD treatment support
- Community AOD recovery programmes
- Peer support for AOD recovery
- Family support for people with AOD issues
Lottery Community Wellbeing: Community AOD services and recovery.
Kaupapa Māori AOD treatment:
- Te Puni Kōkiri: Māori AOD health equity
- Māori AOD providers: Kaupapa Māori residential and community treatment
- Whānau Ora: Whānau-centred AOD support
Māori have higher rates of methamphetamine use and alcohol harm — culturally appropriate treatment is critical.
Young people and AOD:
- Youth AOD services: Specialist youth AOD treatment
- Schools: AOD education and early intervention
- CAYAD: Community action on youth and drugs
Methamphetamine-specific:
- Te Ara Whakamana: Residential treatment
- Community recovery: Peer support for methamphetamine recovery
- Family support: Families of methamphetamine users
Strong applications demonstrate:
- Treatment completion: Clients completing AOD treatment programmes
- Abstinence/harm reduction: Reduction in substance use or harm
- Equity: Māori and Pacific communities with highest burden
- Co-occurring disorders: Mental health alongside AOD
- Family: Families supported alongside person with AOD issue
- Employment: Return to work or education after treatment
- Criminal justice: Diversion from criminal justice through treatment
- Peer support: Lived experience in programme delivery
Tahua's grants management platform helps AOD organisations manage grant applications across Te Whatu Ora, MSD, Ministry of Justice, gaming trusts, and Lottery, tracking treatment completion, harm reduction, and recovery outcomes.