For almost a decade, Grace’s life was defined by addiction and disconnection. With a lot of determination, and support from the Auckland City Mission – Te Tāpui Atawhai, Grace has turned her life around. She’s drug free, employed, thriving – and most importantly, she’s reunited with her teenage daughter. 

Grace’s life fell apart after her marriage of twenty years ended and a new partner introduced her to methamphetamine. Methamphetamine is highly addictive, and although she had never taken it before, she was addicted within weeks. 

“I was in a dumb relationship – he put me down the wrong track, and then it just started from there. I was taking anything and everything that could make me high, but mainly meth.” 

She tried to juggle work and looking after her young daughter with the drug habit, but her life quickly spiraled out of control. She lost everything: her job, her home and care of her daughter.  

She was devastated: “They stopped me from seeing her. They said when I get better, she’ll come home. I knew it was best because of what I was doing, but I had to ask permission to go visit my baby.” 

She suffered severe depression from the trauma of losing her daughter and being caught up in the aftermath of a violent crime, and became dependent on sleeping tablets. 

Grace lost eight years of her life to addiction and depression.  

She was desperate to get her daughter back – “I missed my baby so much and she missed me” – and determined to get drug free. But like too many people in New Zealand, she struggled to access the medical help that she so urgently needed.  

According to the 2023/2024 New Zealand Health Survey, one in six adults are unable to see a GP because of cost, and one in four adults are unable to see a GP due to the time taken to get an appointment. 

“At my old doctors, my bill was up to $200 and they wouldn’t see me anymore because I couldn’t pay.”    

Grace finally got the wrap-around care she needed to get her life back on track when she came to the Mission. 

At our Calder Health Centre, we provide low-cost, trauma-informed medical care for people experiencing the complex health impacts of poverty, homelessness and harmful substance use.  

“If I couldn’t see the doctors and nurses [at the Calder] throughout my time trying to be clean, I wouldn’t be clean.”  

At Calder, Grace was welcomed without judgement, treated with respect and supported every step of the way by Nurse Practitioner Lizzy. 

“[The doctors and nurses] supported me and how I was feeling, even knowing I was a drug addict. They spoke to me like a person, not treated me like a druggie. They were the incentive for helping me get clean.”  

In Calder – and across the Mission – we make the time to build relationships with those who come to us for support, to earn their trust and respond to their unique needs with compassion and care. These genuine human connections are at the heart of the transformations that we witness every day. 

Through Calder, Grace got the medication she needed to stop using methamphetamine, and she was connected to other Mission services to support her recovery. 

She spent two weeks at our residential Social Withdrawal (detox) programme at HomeGround, where she received personalised support to safely stop using sleeping tablets. 

“I couldn’t give up the [sleeping tablets] without that support. The staff were brilliant and helpful. I had someone there really watching over me.” 

Lizzy and the team at the Mission stayed by Grace’s side throughout her journey back to sobriety, and Grace recently celebrated two full years of being free from methamphetamine. 

She’s committed to looking after her health now: “I go to the gym practically every day. I’ve changed my diet. I feel brilliant.” 

She has a permanent job as a commercial cleaner and, through her faith, she’s coming to terms with her past.  

Most importantly, Grace has reconnected with her teenage daughter, who is living with her once again. “I got my baby back! It’s like Christmas on top of Christmas!”  

Her daughter, who is planning to join the New Zealand Defence Force when she finishes school next year, is really proud of how Grace has turned her life around. 

So is Grace: “I don’t want to give all this up. I don’t want to ruin it by ever going back to the life I had before.”  

When Lizzy recently presented at a medical conference, Grace and her daughter were there. They were there to give back to Lizzy for her unwavering medical and emotional support: “We went with Lizzy to tautoko [support] her”, and Grace’s daughter performed a moving haka in response to Lizzy’s speech.