September 20, 2007

Mayor calls for minute's silence for An An Liu

More than 500 people from Waitakere's Asian community will tomorrow (Friday, September 21) observe a minute's silence for An An Liu.

Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey will lead the silence as part of the opening of the city's annual Moon Festival.

"It seems this family had strong connections with the west and that there was a history of domestic violence," says Mayor Harvey.

"Waitakere is also currently running a 'family violence is not OK in Waitakere' campaign so this tribute is just so right. A death like this one is very rare in the Chinese community and I want to offer to stand beside our community at this terrible and traumatic time."

Mayor Harvey also noted tomorrow was United Nations International Day of Peace.

"Family violence is a scourge for every culture and we need to move quickly to eliminate it so peace can start in the home," says Mayor Harvey.

"The Moon Festival is still a celebration of our Asian communities and the contribution they make to this city but we cannot sweep tragedies like this under the carpet. Our hearts go out to little Qian and her family for their loss and to all the others so tragically affected by family violence."

Waitakere's Moon Festival features storytelling, Chinese fortune-telling and food and entertainment and gives New Zealanders a glimpse into a culture other than their own in an effort to promote greater cross-cultural understanding and tolerance.

As well as the family violence campaign Mayor Harvey and Maori Party co-leader and local kaumätua Dr Pita Sharples are involved in a newly established Mayoral Taskforce against Family Violence.

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