Hāpai Te Hauora congratulate Toi Ohomai on compassionate approach to student drug testing policy
Hāpai Te Hauora a national public health organisation congratulates Rotorua based Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology,
for reconsidering their student drug testing policy.
Drug testing should not be a barrier for young people considering a career in the trade industry . Although Hāpai
understands the need for drug testing for safety reasons, a compassionate approach is recommended , where any positive
drug test results are followed up with offers of counselling and other appropriate supports to move students away from
possible addiction, and into there chosen career pathway.
Lance Norman, CEO of Hāpai believes "that in the past many young Māori and Pacific interested in the trades have been
turned away because of drug testing, when it could have been a far more positive outcome, ending in more trade qualified
New Zealanders and an opportunity for a health intervention that would benefit that young person and their families
future for life".
Hāpai looks forward to Toi Ohomai making their final decisions about next steps for drug-testing for trade students in
2018.
ENDS