The Maori health organisation and the Otago Boxing Association (OBA), with the support of the Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand, have joined forces and are running a boxing programme that they hope will encourage teenagers to make good lifestyle decisions.
"It is about building self-confidence and self-esteem so they can make good decisions about alcohol," Rouvi said.
"The kids that are on our programme are at that age where they have lifestyle choices.
"Boxing is a discipline which is about controlling what you are doing. You have to learn to switch on while you are in the ring and while you are training and working hard, but also staying in control of your mind."
The 10-week programme, which consists of weekly boxing and mentoring sessions, started in October last year with six teenagers. Rouvi said there had been some positive outcomes in terms of improving fitness levels and putting the teenagers in contact with some positive role models. A second intake got under way last month.
Arai Te Uru Whare Hauora works with groups including Dunedin police, the Dunedin City Council, Sport Otago and health organisations to help identify young people who might benefit from the programme.
Boxing is not tiddlywinks, though. It can be brutal and is not for everyone, Rouvi said.
But for the right person, it can have a very positive impact.
"It is about teaching the kids right from the start about the benefits of boxing and why they are doing it. We outlined to the kids that boxing stays in the ring and is not something they can use out on the street."
Anyone breaking that rule was booted out of the programme, he said.
OBA president Colin Falloon said he had not expected to get a boxer out of the programme but at least one teenager had emerged as a genuine talent.
