For years, she worked hard to keep life looking steady while quietly struggling with substance use and an unhealthy relationship. Reaching out for support marked the beginning of a long journey toward recovery and rebuilding her life.
Around 15 years ago, that journey led me to Nga Kete.
At the time I was trying to study, manage finances, deal with substance abuse, and navigate a relationship that wasn’t healthy. From the outside, things probably looked okay. On the inside, I was overwhelmed and didn’t know how to ask for help. Eventually, I realised I couldn’t do it alone and that’s when I reached out to Ngā Kete.
I first came seeking help for substance use. My substance use began when I moved from being a “church girl” to drinking and partying. Drinking then turned into hard drugs. For me it wasn’t about wanting to do it, it was a compulsion. I felt like I had to even though I didn’t want to. It became my way of coping with things I wasn’t ready to address.
For so long I tried to get sober. I relapsed, reached out to Ngā Kete again, and kept trying to make my relationship work. I knew though that even when I stepped away, Ngā Kete was somewhere I could always return.
It wasn’t until I became a mother that everything changed. It was one thing to live without power and food when it was just you, but when you all of a sudden had kids relying on you to provide, it completely changes your perspective.
I began attending NA meetings, engaged with the Mahana counsellor and joined Te Kore, a group run by Ngā Kete. That was the turning point.
From there, I committed fully to recovery. Through counselling I began to understand my patterns and the roots of my substance use. The Te Kore group also played a huge role in my healing. Learning about behaviour and addiction helped me understand my recovery, and hearing others’ stories reduced my shame. I began to forgive myself and accept that change is not a straight line.
With support, I worked toward separating from my partner for over a year. My counsellor supported me through stopping substance use, navigating the court process, and maintaining separation. Her guidance helped me stay sober during one of the most challenging periods of my life. My ex has now been out of the home for several months, and this time it has stayed that way.
In 2025, I began working with a kaimahi from the Pūrerehua Transformation Service. For the first time, the focus shifted from surviving to planning for the future. The kaimahi helped me recognise my strengths, clarify my needs, and set achievable long-term goals. She guided me step-by-step, helping me organise study materials, apply for scholarships, navigate tertiary systems, and manage the practical challenges of being a newly single mother.
Her support wasn’t just about logistics. She believed in me when I doubted myself, helped me see possibilities I hadn’t imagined, and reminded me that I was capable of more than I thought. Her consistent support gave me the confidence to commit fully to my studies and my future.
With her guidance, I was able to successfully complete Diploma level study last year. I am now studying towards a bachelors degree at university. Having someone walk alongside me so quietly, consistently, and with genuine belief in me made all the difference.
I am now over three years sober. My life looks completely different. Weekends are spent with my children instead of recovering from drinking, and we are more financially stable. Over the recent Christmas break, I was able to do more with my kids than I have ever done before.
My goal now is to become a registered professional practitioner and help assist others in their recovery journey. I am healthier, more present, and more hopeful than I have ever been.
Ngā Kete didn’t just support me through recovery, they supported me to rebuild my life and create a future for myself and my children.
