Recovery Support Aotearoa New Zealand
Take control of your recovery
SMART Recovery Aotearoa New Zealand
SMART Recovery Australia is proud to expand its evidence-based, peer-led recovery support throughout Aotearoa, New Zealand, with the valued support of the New Zealand Drug Foundation.
What Is SMART Recovery?
SMART Recovery (Self-Management and Recovery Training) is a global, evidence-based program that helps individuals recover from all types of addictive behaviours, including alcohol, drugs, gambling, food, shopping, internet use, and more. Unlike traditional 12-step programs, SMART Recovery utilises tools based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Motivational Interviewing (MI).
We empower people to take control of their recovery journey by teaching practical skills for self-management and providing a supportive community of peers. In early 2025, SMART Recovery Australia held a "Taste of SMART" event at Ara Poutama Aotearoa in Wellington, highlighting our commitment to expanding access to this practical approach.
How SMART Works: The 4-Point Program
The SMART Recovery approach is built around a 4-Point Program®:
- Building and Maintaining Motivation: Discovering and strengthening your reasons for change and developing commitment to your recovery goals.
- Coping with Urges: Learning practical strategies to manage cravings and urges without giving in.
- Problem Solving: Developing effective ways to deal with life's challenges that might otherwise trigger addictive behaviours.
- Lifestyle Balance: Creating a healthy and fulfilling life that supports your ongoing recovery.
SMART Recovery provides you with tools and techniques you can use immediately to make positive changes.
Find Support in Aotearoa New Zealand
Connecting with others who understand can be a powerful part of recovery. SMART Recovery offers free, peer-led meetings in Aotearoa, New Zealand. These meetings provide a safe and supportive environment for participants to share experiences, learning from others, and practising SMART Recovery tools.
We also offer online meetings, making support accessible from anywhere.
SMART Recovery Australia is proud to expand its evidence-based, peer-led recovery support throughout Aotearoa, New Zealand, thanks to the support of the New Zealand Drug Foundation and Odyssey Auckland.
Get Involved and Support SMART in NZ
Want to make a difference in your community? There are several ways to get involved with SMART Recovery in Aotearoa, New Zealand:
- Become a Facilitator in New Zealand: Facilitators are the heart of our meetings, guiding discussions and supporting participants in their recovery journeys. If you are passionate about helping others and believe in the SMART Recovery approach, consider becoming a facilitator.
- Volunteer: There may be other opportunities to volunteer your time and skills to support SMART Recovery's growth in Aotearoa.
- Help bring SMART to your community: If there isn't a meeting in your area, you could help us establish one. Contact us to explore the possibilities.
Timeline of Yarn SMART
Timeline that showcases the development of the Yarn SMART program since the beginning of the training initiatives provided by SMART Recovery Australia, emphasizing the program's growth and impact.
September 2021
Dr Liz Dale completes PhD - A multi-methods yarn about SMART Recovery: First insights from Australian Aboriginal facilitators and group members, and A Delphi yarn: applying Indigenous knowledges to enhance the cultural utility of SMART Recovery Australia.
April - 2023
Aboriginal Action Group forms.
June - 2023
- Inside Policy works with Aboriginal Action Group to develop Yarn SMART, including facilitator and training handbooks
- Aboriginal Action Group develops First Nations specific training program – Yarn SMART
July - 2023
SMART Recovery receives Commonwealth Government funding to support the development of Yarn SMART.
December - 2023
First Yarn SMART Facilitator training delivered.
February - 2024
First Yarn SMART meeting registered
May -2024
6 Yarn SMART meetings registered
September -2024
6 Yarn SMART meetings registered
November -2024
10 Yarn SMART training groups completed & over 100 individuals trained
Contact Us
If you have any questions or would like to learn more about SMART Recovery in Aotearoa New Zealand, please contact our team.
Media Release
SMART Recovery Australia Expands Peer-Led Support in Aotearoa
SMART Recovery Australia Expands Peer Support in Aotearoa in Partnership with New Zealand Drug Foundation
Sydney, Australia- 10th March 2025 - SMART Recovery Australia is proud to deepen its impact in Aotearoa New Zealand through a strategic partnership with the New Zealand Drug Foundation, hosting a Taste of SMART event to expand access to evidence-based, peer-led recovery support nationwide.
The Australian delegation- including SMART Recovery Australia Director Shaun Fisher, CEO April Long, Yarn SMART National Trainer Trevor Pearce, National Engagement and Membership Manager Daniel Raffell and facilitators of LGBTIQ+ SMART meetings—will also be providing SMART Recovery Youth training to Odyssey House Auckland long term partners of SMART Recovery.
The delegation will be participating in the New Zealand Drug Summit and AOD Leaders Day. The team will share insights on Yarn SMART (a culturally grounded program for Indigenous people), Youth SMART, LGBTIQ+ SMART, and Inside Out, an innovative recovery program supporting people within the justice system.
“This collaboration marks an important step in strengthening SMART Recovery’s impact in Aotearoa,” said April Long, CEO of SMART Recovery Australia. “SMART is a peer support and mutual aid program that empowers people to take control of their recovery journey. There is so much Australia and Aotearoa can learn from each other to better support individuals, families, and communities affected by addiction. By working together, we can expand access to inclusive, community-led recovery solutions that make a real difference”
SMART Recovery Australia Chair, Brett Savill highlighted the importance of international collaboration in driving evidence-based recovery solutions:
"We’ve worked in New Zealand for some time and this is the opportunity to take that support to the next level. Peer-led support is a powerful force for change, and this partnership with the New Zealand Drug Foundation will strengthen community-driven approaches to addiction recovery. By sharing knowledge, resources, and lived experience, we can help more people access effective, empowering, and non-judgmental support on their journey to recovery.”
The Taste of SMART event will introduce key stakeholders, service providers, and lived-experience advocates to the SMART Recovery approach, which empowers individuals through self-management, mutual support, and practical tools for change. With growing interest in alternatives to traditional treatment models, SMART Recovery provides a flexible, evidence-based approach that aligns with Aotearoa’s focus on harm reduction and community-led responses.