In 2004 the Ministry of Health contracted the National Addiction Centre and the University of Otago, to develop and host a National Addiction Treatment Workforce Development Programme. A number of activities were initiated, in close consultation with the sector, including a ten year strategic plan to develop the addiction treatment workforce.

In 2008 Matua Raki moved to Wellington to become part of Te Rau Matatini, the National Māori Workforce Development Programme, first in a transitional arrangement and then permanently.  Te Rau Matatini provides a range of services such as financial, HR, and IT.

The Matua Raki Workplan is based on the Ministry of Health's five strategic directives for workforce development:

  • infrastructure development
  • organisational development
  • recruitment and retention
  • training development
  • research and evaluation

Matua Raki works closely with service providers, training providers, professional bodies and policymakers, to support the current workforce and to plan for future workforce development.

The Matua Raki Advisory Group (MRAG) has been established to inform and support Matua Raki in achieving its work programme. Matua Raki continues to work collaboratively with the National Addiction Centre.

The name Matua Raki (“highest of the heavens”) came from the late Takarangi Metekingi, Maōri Consultant to the programme, who described the vision as representing “passion, commitment and striving for excellence”.

Matua Raki is one of four Ministry of Health-funded workforce development programmes for the mental health sector. The others are: Te Rau Matatini, the Werry Centre (child and adolescent mental health), and Te Pou (general mental health).

Who is the addiction workforce?

People who work with those who have alcohol and drug and gambling problems are collectively known as the 'addiction' workforce. The addiction workforce in New Zealand is primarily made up of people who work in contracted Alcohol and Drug Services (provided by both District Health Boards and non-government agencies). The addiction workforce also comprises people who work in other government- or community-funded services, and a few private practitioners with a special interest or specialisation in addictions.

What is Workforce Development?

Workforce development supports training and career pathways, and supports recruitment and staff retention.  It forms an alliance with consumers, employers, teachers and DAPAANZ (Drug and Alcohol Practitioners Association of Aotearoa/New Zealand) to improve the wellbeing of those struggling with addiction.

Vision

People with alcohol, other drug and gambling problems and their families/whānau have access to highly skilled, well supported and effective treatment and related workforces.

In 10 years time one-third of the dedicated addiction treatment workforce will have addiction-related graduate qualifications. Another third will have addiction-related postgraduate qualifications with the remaining third having training related to their level of clinical responsibility.

Aims

As a national programme, Matua Raki aims to be:
  • Fair in distribution of effort and resource.
  • Inclusive, seeking collaborative approaches to workforce development.
  • Solution focused, delivering relevant solutions to workforce barriers and workforce development opportunities.
  • Facilitative, inspiring, empowering and informing.
  • Efficient, making quality decisions and applying project management methodology to deliver on time and on budget.