Backing the people behind harm reduction

Aotearoa New Zealand’s original drug-checking provider is using its HealthCarePlus grant to invest in the volunteers who keep its service alive.

When you’ve spent over a decade doing work that once carried the risk of prosecution under the Misuse of Drugs Act, a vote of confidence matters. That’s exactly what KnowYourStuffNZ (KYSNZ) received with its HealthCarePlus Grant for Good.

KYSNZ is Aotearoa’s original drug-checking provider, a grassroots, peer-led organisation that grew out of a frustration over how preventable drug harm was being ignored.

“The status quo at the time was to accept that death and harm are an inevitable outcome of drug use,” says Casey Spearin, General Manager at KYSNZ. “We didn’t think that was good enough.”

That conviction led them to create a set of harm reduction strategies that meet people where they are. Rather than moralising, KYSNZ gives drug users factual, proven information about what they intend to take, so they can understand the risks and make safer choices. In 2025/26 alone, the organisation worked with more than 5,000 clients across 180 events nationwide, reaching hundreds of thousands more through education and outreach.

None of this could happen without its volunteers. KYSNZ’s network of more than 500 volunteers is trained in analytical drug-checking techniques and harm reduction, and it’s these volunteers that the grant was used to support. 

“We used the grant to resource our regional teams with in-person training and whakawhanuangatanga events. It’s the kind of connection that’s hard to fund but vital to sustain,” says Casey. “Our volunteers express a strong desire for deeper involvement, including opportunities to upskill, engage in community outreach and strengthen peer connections.”

As one volunteer says, “Volunteering with Know Your Stuff has been deeply meaningful for me, especially after losing two friends to accidental overdoses. KYSNZ provides exceptional training, teaching me to approach conversations with empathy and non-judgement. I’m grateful to be part of this life-saving work.”

The grant has also helped KYSNZ to develop an online training hub and run webinars on priority harm-reduction topics. “Better trained volunteers mean a more consistent, compassionate service for our clients,” says Casey.

Casey is encouraging of others thinking of applying for a grant with HealthCarePlus. “We were initially worried that our area of work would be too controversial to be considered. But this was not the case. Every interaction we’ve had with the Grants for Good team has been wonderful and supportive.”

In the midst of an evolving international drug crisis, that pragmatic, people-first support is exactly what’s needed. And KYSNZ is making it count.

*Photo credit: KYSNZ

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