Amokura to Close

Funding re-appropriation leads to closure of the Amokura Family Violence Prevention initiative in Whangarei

The Amokura Family Violence Prevention initiative will cease to operate at the end of June 2011 due to Government re-appropriation of family violence prevention funding to frontline services.

The internationally acclaimed Amokura initiative was formed in 2004 by a Consortium of seven Taitokerau Iwi as a strategic initiative designed to strengthen the Northland family violence prevention sector and reduce social tolerance of family violence. In 2008 Amokura received an international human rights award from the Leitner Centre of Fordham Law School, New York

Amokura spokesperson, Naida Glavish highlighted some of the significant achievements of Amokura over the last seven years including co-ordinating Iwi support for the repeal of s59 of the Crimes Act; production of resources like Aroha in Action; the successful Step Back campaign; the design and delivery of a National Certificate in Abuse, Neglect and Violence; and the ongoing development and support of family violence prevention advocates and champions right across the North.

"While the closure of the Amokura initiative is sad", says Ms Glavish, "we finish this phase with our heads held high knowing that Amokura has made a strong impact on reducing the tolerance of violence within families and has strengthened our communities response to this serious issue."

In April 2011, Associate Minister of Social Development, Tariana Turia announced the re-appropriation of family violence education funding to frontline services so that families in crisis are kept safe and are supported to be resilient and strong. Ms Glavish confirmed Iwi support for the Minister's drive to improve funding for frontline services working with whanau in greatest need.

"Amokura was never intended to be the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff; and we'd never compete for funding with the frontline services we were set up to support. As a preventative initiative, Amokura is unique in bringing seven Iwi together, standing arm-in-arm at the top of the cliff to turn our whanau back from the edge. The loss of Government funding means our momentum is stalled, but the Consortium remains fully committed to keeping the mana and kaupapa of Amokura alive", says Ms Glavish.

The closure of Amokura will result in five staff losing their jobs. In addition, a host of Northland frontline providers and family violence prevention networks, such as GenerationALL, and Te Puna O Te Aroha Maori Women's Refuge; will be without the advocacy, research, training, education and promotion services that Amokura has provided. The loss of Amokura support for the many whanau and community advocates who sustain violence free families will be keenly felt in rural communities throughout the North.

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