Star Joe Walsh Helping Fight Against P in Hawke's Bay
Author: Staff writer
Publication: New Zealand Financial Times
Date: October 6, 2004
Abstract: Joe spreads the anti-drug message in New Zealand.
Hastings, Oct 6 - Rock star Joe Walsh, guitarist with the Eagles, will bring an anti-drug message to the historic Otatara Pa site at Taradale in the Hawke's Bay tomorrow.
For just over two hours Walsh, a drug addict in remission, will help focus on a message that the illicit drug methamphetamine and its hardened pure form known as P are not the cool highs which seem to be luring many people into a life-destroying and sometimes fatal habit.
Walsh is taking time out from a world tour to visit New Zealand at his own expense for the project organised by Mokai Whanau Ora, a group of people committed to building a better future for themselves, their families and those with addictions, particularly to methamphetamines.
He was due to visit Parliament in Wellington today, Hawke's Bay tomorrow, and Hoani Waititi marae, Auckland, on Friday on what has been dubbed The Sinners' Tour.
It was a thank you to those people who talked with him and took him to Otatara in the 1990s when he toured New Zealand with Herbs and was in the throes of heavy alcohol and cocaine addictions. The experience was the beginning of a long journey back to health for Walsh.
Walsh's visit to the Hawke's Bay will start at the Eastern Institute of Technology in Napier at noon, and soon after he will make his way to the Otatara Marae amphitheatre where he will be welcomed by kaumatua Fred Reti and tangata whenua of nearby Waiohiki Marae.
Walsh will play from 1.30 to 1.50pm, between messages and pleas for an end to P.
Napier man Denis O'Reilly, who calls himself a resultant'' (a consultant who gets results) is encouraging people to turn up to hear Walsh.
If you are facing a problem with P, gather some support around you and accept it as a family or group issue,''he said.
Mr O'Reilly said the loss of a friend who killed himself in a P-induced psychosis about three years ago was among the biggest shocks he has had.
Government-based assessments believed that about 35,000 New Zealanders were using P, he said.
Police estimated 95 percent of the mainly street-level supply was coming through the gangs, with whom he has had a close association for more than 30 years.
At least six meth labs have been busted by police in Hawke's Bay this year.
