Following on from a Rotary initiative in 1987, DARE NZ was developed and launched in 1990 after extensive trials and consultation between the Departments of Education, Health, Drugs Advisory Committee, NZ Educational Institute, PPTA, and Police. The DARE Foundation and Police administer the programmes nationally.
Rotary’s continued support of this relationship helps maintain nationwide delivery, promotion of community engagement and programme facilitation.

There are now seven DARE programmes:

• DARE to make a Choice: is an education programme for 8-12 year olds with a focus on developing skills in decision-making, assertiveness and handling peer pressure. The programme is delivered in the classroom in a unique partnership of the Teacher and a specially trained Police Education Officer
• Tena Kowhiria: is a Te Reo version of DARE to make a Choice, with teaching materials developed by Maori for implementation in Kura Kaupapa schools.
• DARE to Drive to Survive: if for senior secondary school students - the programme aims to help young people make informed and responsible decisions about alternatives to driving and drinking alcohol, thus reducing death and injury from car crashes.
• DARE Reducing the Harm: is an action plan to help secondary schools and their communities reduce illicit drug harm.
• DARE to Support your Kids: is an education programme for parents and caregivers. Participants attending workshops participate in activities that provide ideas and strategies for enhancing communication and relationships within the family, and also receive information about drugs, including signs and symptoms they should be aware of as parents.
• DARE to be You: is a positive personal change programme for young adolescents identified as in need of assistance. It aims to help build and reinforce young people’s own unique sense of who they are, and to provide them with practical skills they can take forward into life, such as decision-making, problem-solving, anger management, and is adaptable around 5 different themes of Family Issues, Disability, Diversity, Self Esteem, and Conservation
• DARE to Move On: was developed for youth at risk, and challenges young people to look at the areas of conflict and turmoil in their lives and to help them overcome the obstacles in their path that have impacted on their behaviour to date.

There are a number of DARE Support Committees in the District and for details contact:

Gabrielle Carroll
DARE National Coordinator, RNZPC
Private Bag 50906, Porirua 5240
Bus: 04 238 3020
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