Title: Taking a stand against violence

A police band performing in a town square is just one way in which staff from around Central District will be taking a stand against violence and supporting White Ribbon Day.

White Ribbon Day is the United Nations International Day for the elimination of violence against women and the wearing of a white ribbon has been adopted as the international symbol of opposition to such violence.

As well as wearing white ribbons on duty staff will be lending support to a number of community events aimed at raising awareness of the issue.

During the 08/09 financial year Police attended over 73,000 family violence occurrences with the majority of the primary victims being women. Of course children and men are also subjected to violence and the Police commitment is to all victims regardless of age or gender.

"It doesn't matter who the violence is towards, it is simply not acceptable," says Central District Family Violence Co-ordinator Maree Hill. "There is a great deal of collaborative work that goes on all year round to help address the issues and bring offenders to justice. White Ribbon Day is a great opportunity to highlight that work and to reinforce the point that it requires a collective effort to ensure we are all safe in our homes."

See below for a list of White Ribbon events taking place throughout Central District:

Feilding Between 11am and 2pm on Friday, 27 November there will be a whole host of events taking place in the centre of Feilding. The White Ribbon event will be opened by Mayor Ian McKelvie and then there will be performances from a number of music and dance acts from locall schools and groups. Among the performance will be a band made up of police staff who will perform five songs with lyrics promoting peace. MCs for the event will be Justin and Kendall from MORE FM.

Levin The Super Maori Fullas* and the Patriots Defence Force Motorcycle Club (100 plus motorbikes) will be in Levin on two days. They arrive at the Village Green/Memorial Hall at 3pm on Wednesday, 25 November departing around 3.30pm. They then return the following day at 9.30am and depart at 10am.

Member of the Horowhenua Abuse Liaison Team (HALT) the Horowhenua Family Violence Intervention Programme (HFVIP) will be in Levin Mall on Wednesday, 25 November between 9.30am and 4.30pm handing out white ribbons and holding a raffle.

Palmerston North At 12.30pm in The Square, on Wednesday, 25 November, 300 white balloons will be released into the air. Deputy Mayor John Hornblow will be attending the event. The contact for this is Detective Sergeant Dave Wishnowsky on 06 351 3636. Later in the evening the Super Maori Fullas* and the Patriots Defence Force Motorcycle Club (100 plus motorbikes) will ride into the city for a hui. This White Ribbon Ride has been organised by the Families Commission taking four separate routes through the North Island.

Throughout White Ribbon Day on Wednesday, 25 November representatives from Manawatu Abuse Intervention Network (MAIN) will be engaging with local businesses encouraging them to display a sticker or poster in their premises in support. White ribbons will also be handed out throughout the city. Contact at MAIN is Shelley Fraser on 06 351 3633.

Wanganui All men are invited to join a march up Victoria Avenue to Majestic Square on Wednesday, 25 November, where there will be formal speeches and a free sausage sizzle. Those marching will meet at Taupo Quay from 11.45am to march at noon. Contact for this event is Vanessa Bell of the Whanganui Family Violence Intervention Network on 06 345 6681.

South Taranaki The Super Maori Fullas* and the Patriots Defence Force Motorcycle Club (100 plus motorbikes) will travel to Hawera on Wednesday, 25 November. They will drive to the centre of the town where Hawera Rape Crisis will have family violence stands and various giveaways. After about two hours in Hawera they will head north to Stratford for a drive around Stratford before heading on to New Plymouth.

At the Stratford A&P show at Stratford Showgrounds on Saturday, 28 November the South Taranaki Collaborative will have a White Ribbon stand and will be holding a free raffle. Contact for South Taranaki is Sergeant Phil Taikato on 06 765 8877.

New Plymouth A White Ribbon Ride 09 celebration will be held at Puke Ariki Landing between 4.30pm and 6pm on Wednesday, 25 November. In the event of wet weather the venue will be Huatoki Plaza. The MC for this event will be All Black Lelia Masaga and there will be live music, a balloon release, sausage sizzle and free white ribbons. The Super Maori Fullas* and the Patriots Defence Force Motorcycle Club (100 plus motorbikes) will attend the event as part of a ride organised by the Families Commission across the North Island.

* The Super Maori Fullas brothers grew up surrounded by love and respect and now use the visibility and mobility of their motorbikes to encourage New Zealanders to show they are against violence towards women and children. The Patriot Motorcycle Club has members drawn from current or former New Zealand Defence Force personnel.

ENDS

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