Background Information

The adult AODT Court, which began in Aotearoa New Zealand in 2012, provides pathways for those facing incarceration for serious offending fueled by an unaddressed substance use disorder to alcohol or other drugs, to remain in the community to deal with those underlying issues. The results of this challenging work can be truly transformational. Based on an extensively evaluated US model, the Aotearoa New Zealand AODT courts have been successfully adapted to reflect our country and our people. Now that the AODT courts have been operational for well over a decade (and have been made permanent since the last AODT Court conference in 2019), it is timely to further strengthen and promote the development and sustainability of these courts in Aotearoa.

Conference Theme

This year’s AODT Court Conference has a theme of Mairangatia te Ora – Building Capacity, Transforming Lives and Strengthening Communities. The conference will bring together local and international experts and stakeholders to showcase cutting edge international and local research and best practices on drug treatment courts, build capacity and foster collaboration. An aim of the conference is to encourage the further rollout of these courts in other parts of Aotearoa. This is at a time when the prevalence of methamphetamine use, with its consequent harm, has been exponentially increasing. There will be a wide range of people at the conference including iwi, local and international academics and subject experts, policymakers, the judiciary and legal profession, police, corrections, the health sector and recovery communities, students and the wider community. There will be presentations featuring a large number of AODT Court graduates, as well as leading international subject experts and local speakers. Our programme is now published in the menu under ‘Programme’.

Thanks to our supporters

The conference is being generously funded through the Freemasons Foundation as our lead partner, together with support from the Michael and Suzanne Borrin Foundation, as well as The Law Association of New Zealand, and The Steve Jelas Foundation. This much appreciated support has allowed for extremely reasonable registration fees. Registration includes access to the full two day programme, catering, and the reception at the end of day one.

Organising Committee

The AODT Court Conference 2025 is being run by Judge Lisa Tremewan (founding AODT Court judge) and Dr Katherine Doolin (University of Auckland) in partnership with Te Wāhanga Ture o Tāmaki Makaurau | Auckland Law School and an organising committee including Matua Rāwiri Pene (Ngā Puhi, Tainui), Judge Denise Clark (Ngā Puhi, Te Rarawa) and Dr Suliana Mone (Auckland Law School).