• For the first time, Auckland’s Harbour Bridge and Sky Tower will light up red on Tuesday September 9 to raise awareness of International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Awareness Day, joining many other landmarks around Aotearoa New Zealand. A group of caregivers, people with FASD and others will gather on Auckland’s waterfront to watch this fantastic display at 6pm.

• Also on 09/09 at 9am, FASD-CAN will be welcoming Minister Matt Doocey to an online event to hear more about the Government’s priorities for addressing FASD. The FASD community are hoping for good news, as progress has slowed since then-Health Minister Shane Reti announced a raft of FASD initiatives in April 2024.

Landmarks around Aotearoa NZ will be joining hundreds around the globe in lighting up red for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Awareness Day on 09/09 (the date symbolises the nine months of pregnancy when fetal alcohol exposure must be avoided). 2025 is special because for the first time, Auckland’s Harbour Bridge and Sky Tower will also light up. The thousands of people around the motu who have FASD, as well as their whānau, are grateful for this boost and excited that awareness of the scale of the disorder is beginning to grow.

Marina Seager, ‘Home for Life’ parent of a young teen with FASD, says, “It’s really encouraging to see cities across Aotearoa NZ lighting up for International FASD Awareness Day. Each monument that changes colour sparks a conversation and helps build understanding. Awareness is growing, and that gives me hope — because even if just one or two women pause to reconsider drinking while pregnant, that moment of reflection could change a child’s life.”

FASD Awareness Day hopes to help the general public realise that:

• there is no safe time and no safe amount of alcohol to consume in pregnancy.

• all populations where alcohol is used are at risk for FASD. Nearly 50% of births in NZ are unplanned, so up to six weeks of alcohol exposure often can occur before women realise they’re pregnant. If you’re not planning for a baby, it’s important to use contraception.

• people with FASD have many strengths, but life is a struggle for them. However with early intervention, understanding and support they can live good and productive lives, which will positively affect the whole community.

The costs of FASD in Aotearoa NZ

FASD-CAN and the families and professionals they support are hoping for good news from Minister Matt Doocey on September 9. FASD-CAN CEO Stephanie James-Sadler says, “We are looking forward to hosting the Minister on 09/09 to hear about new priorities for FASD in Aotearoa – and we’re excited that so many landmarks are lighting up to support us this year. It makes an enormous difference for our whānau to feel they are being heard.”

In 2024, two ground-breaking reports were released which documented the cost to society represented by FASD – but these figures do not document what families experience during a lifetime of care with little to no support.

• An NZIER study commissioned by Manatū Hauora / the Ministry of Health found that FASD represents more than half of the cost of all alcohol harm in Aotearoa – an estimated $4.8 billion (total cost $9.1bn).

• Another report by Massey University found that FASD far outstrips alcohol-fuelled violence and car crashes in terms of the impact of alcohol harm.

Significant social and economic investment is needed to address prevention of FASD and support services for early diagnosis and intervention, and to change eligibility for Disability Support Services to include people with FASD. This would create better outcomes for them and their whānau – and the investment would represent a fraction of the current cost to society.

The online event at 9am on 09/09 can be joined via this link: https://www.fasd-can.org.nz/fasd_awareness_day_online_get_together

© Scoop Media