Māori healthcare professionals generally support research into psychedelic-assisted therapy in Aotearoa New Zealand, but emphasize the need for cultural safety and equitable access. Interviews with 13 Māori healthcare professionals revealed four key themes: greater awareness leads to more openness toward psychedelic-assisted therapy; more research and education are needed; the therapy has potential to align with Te Ao Māori (Māori worldview); and equitable access is critical for Māori. The study used Māori health models Te Whare Tapa Whā and Te Wheke as frameworks. Improving awareness of this novel treatment is likely to influence its acceptability and cultural safety for Māori.
A growing number of young patients in New Zealand are being treated for severe bladder overactivity syndrome linked to recreational ketamine use. While ketamine bladder syndrome has been reported internationally, no local data had existed before this work. The condition can cause irreversible bladder damage, and surgical procedures such as cystectomy, urinary diversion, or augmentation cystoplasty have been necessary in some cases internationally.