Promoting Whanau Wellbeing And Preventing Violence

20 June 2005

MEDIA RELEASE

For immediate release

Momentum Builds for Amokura Conference

Promoting Whanau Wellbeing And Preventing Violence

The seven Northern iwi authorities involved in the first Amokura violence prevention conference are rapt with the momentum that’s built up over the last month to ready participants for the next 3 days. (Tues 21-Thurs 23 June)

Spokesman for the Family Violence Prevention Consortium, Allan Pivac says the brand mix the Consortium has developed over the last year has helped fill all the conference seats.

“The Step Back concerts in Kaitaia and Whangarei created interest and action from all sectors of the community – youth, parents and families, with further Step Back activities for Matariki taking place in Whaingaroa just recently (6 June),” he says.

“The Maori New Year brought in the launch of the Matariki Calendar by Waitomo Papakainga in Kaitaia.

“The Consortium supported this community initiative from Waitomo Papakainga, and we are pleased that the calendar reinforces positive messages of non-violence in families,” Mr Pivac says.

Amokura Project Leader, Di Grennell is delighted with the Consortium’s excitement.

“The momentum build up comes mainly from the participants of the conference,” she says.

“For instance, “ Ms Grennell continues, “a couple of youth who attended the Step Back concert in Whangarei at the beginning of the year, were so inspired by the entire day, they went home and composed a song, produced it with the Mai FM team and have had airtime on radio and performed at other Step Back events.

“Zethan Pomare and Erima Davis will perform their song at the conference to support the violence prevention message,” says Ms Grennell.

Children’s Commissioner, Cindy Kiro will address the conference on Wednesday morning, complemented by keynote speakers Herewini Jones and Kataraina Pipi over the next two days.

The Conference workshops include a Kaumatua forum, empowering people, the Mauri Ora framework, and ways of working with children, adults, kaumatua and whanau.

Guest facilitators include Sue Rudman, Phil Paikea, Malcolm Peri, Moe Milne, Katie and Richard Murray, Mariameno Kapa, Tina Perry, Alva Pomare and others.

“The workshops are designed to give practitioners in the north powerful tools to develop resources and solutions in their own communities, and help us all reflect on the conference theme “Nga Kaupapa Tiketike – Integrity in Practice – Integrity of Outcomes,” says Ms Grennell.

The Conference Powhiri will be held at Terenga Paraoa Marae in Porowini Avenue, Whangarei tomorrow (Tues 21) at 6pm.

Conference workshops start at 9am on Wednesday (22 June) at the Forum North Exhibition Hall, Rust Avenue, Whangarei.

Enz

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