Monica Stockdale is a wahine toa whose unwavering dedication has left an indelible mark on kaupapa Māori addiction and gambling services. Her quiet yet determined approach has driven significant advancements in Māori health, earning her recognition as a transformative leader in this field.

In 2022, Monica was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) for her services to Māori health. She is also a member of the Te Pou Reference Group for 'Realme', further demonstrating her ongoing commitment to improving health outcomes for Māori.

Monica’s journey began in the early 1980s when she identified a deep need for kaupapa Māori AOD (Alcohol and Other Drug) services. Her vision to create these services at Queen Mary Hospital has since inspired generations of practitioners and whānau to pursue culturally aligned approaches to addiction treatment. Monica had trained in psychotherapy, social work, counselling, psychodrama and group therapy process, and was a Psychotherapist and addiction and mental health specialist at Queen Mary Hospital Alcohol and Drug Treatment Programme in Christchurch from 1983 to 1998.

Later, Monica pioneered kaupapa Māori gambling services, working tirelessly from her car when she returned to Napier. Through her leadership, she rallied whānau, hapū, and iwi to support the kaupapa, training rangatahi, pākeke, and kuia kaumātua to deliver these services. Many of those she inspired continue her mahi more than 20 years later.

Monica’s influence extends beyond service delivery. She has served on various governance boards and advisory groups, including the Alcoholic Liquor Advisory Council and the Te Rau Matatini Trust. However, her passion remains rooted in her early work as a therapist, where her creativity, humour, and grace profoundly impacted those she supported. Today, she continues to mentor and supervise professionals in the helping professions, sharing her wisdom and skills to nurture the next generation of leaders.

Monica's legacy is deeply woven into the korowai of kaupapa Māori service development in Aotearoa, a testament to her decades of dedication and leadership. The tears of frustration she shed at a bus stop in the early 1980s became a powerful driver for change, transforming Māori health services and inspiring a movement of recovery whānau across the country.

"Waiho rā kia tū takitahi ana ngā whetū o te rangi"
Let it be one alone that stands among the other stars in the sky

Links:

New Year Honours 2022 - Citations for Officers of the New Zealand Order of Merit

Hawkes Bay Today article: Honour for Hawke's Bay Māori health worker Monica Stockdale, who started addiction service 'from the back of her car' 

Founding Member of Te Rau Matatini Trust Board recognised in New Years Honour

Gambling Counselling Services For Hawke's Bay

Managing and leading from a Maori perspective: Bringing new life and energy to organisations article with her daughter Dr Chellie Spiller.

Manager of Āwhina Whānau Services