kaupapa

Cutting Edge 2008 in Christchurch is the 13th Cutting Edge Conference in a series that began in 1995.

The Cutting Edge Conference was initiated by the Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand (ALAC) through Ian MacEwan in 1995 and the National Addiction Centre (NAC) came on board in 1997. Initially envisioned to be a bi-annual event it developed as an annual conference and proved to be a highly successful meeting, consistently attracting over 300 addiction workers, representing about 40% of the workforce. It has provided the sector with an annual update on cutting edge research and development, as well as focus and a sense of national identity. The Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand has been the principal sponsor of the conference since 1995 and will once again be supporting this year’s conference in this way.

The past venues for Cutting Edge have covered much of the country from Waitangi to Dunedin as follows: 1995 Auckland, 1997 Auckland, 1998 Wellington, 1999 Christchurch, 2000 Rotorua, 2001 Napier, 2002 Nelson, 2003 Waitangi, 2004 Palmerston North, 2005 Dunedin, 2006 Wellington, 2007 Auckland.

The 2008 organizing committee includes the following: Tuari Potiki, Gilbert Taurua, Ross Bell, Phillip Siataga, Eileen Varley and Claire Aitken. Lisa Andrews and Lindsay Atkins are once again the Secretariat and Michael Bird has been contracted to assist with the website and publicity.

This year's theme is "Life and Death" and there are going to be 10 keynote speakers who will be addressing this in various ways related to addiction organized into five seminars as follows:

The Fragrance of Life – Dr Sue Bagshaw, Bruce Levi / Josephine Jackson and TUPU Team Drug Policy: A Life and Death Issue – Dr Sally Casswell, Thailand Speaker TBA Death: Gradual and Abrupt – Mr Charles Henderson, Assoc Prof Annette Beautrais Life Pathways – Professor Richie Poulton, Professor David Fergusson Life and Death – Dr Alex Wodak, Mr Paraire Huata

Other features of Cutting Edge 2008 will be a Political Debate, Welcome Reception, Workshops, Free Paper Sessions (including a dedicated Public Health stream), a Poster Session, Special Interest Group Meetings, John Dobson Memorial Foundation Fundraising Cocktail Party and Auction, and an ending Hakari (feast).

This is the final Cutting Edge Conference that the NAC will be involved in as the host organization, which includes the Secretariat. A new host is being sought and an announcement about the future of the Cutting Edge Conference will be made at the conference this year.

The Call for Papers has recently been circulated with a closing date of Tuesday 3rd June. For more information and updates, visit the website www.cuttingedge2008.org.nz

Doug Sellman
Chair, Organizing Committee
Cutting Edge 2008