Dedicated to strengthening vibrant, healthy whanau

Friday, 10 July 2009, 4:55 pm
Press Release: Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Inc

Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated is dedicated to strengthening vibrant, healthy whanau

In 2006 Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated adopted a Violence Free Strategy that was driven and endorsed by Kahungunu whanau/hapu/iwi. Clear and consistent anti violence messages have been and continue to be delivered to its communities that violence is not ok.

The key messages that have been delivered throughout the Kahungunu rohe have allowed communities to learn about Violence and its effects in our schools, our homes and communities. Several groups of Kahungunu rangatahi have shared their key anti violence messages through dance, music and drama. ‘Whakamoe Patu’ has been the slogan to the Kahungunu communities. It means ‘Lay your arms to rest’

In May this year a Kahungunu Violence Free hui was held at Mihiroa Marae Paki Paki Hastings. The hui was an opportunity for iwi leaders to acknowledge where the Kahungunu Violence Free Strategy came from, report on its progress, advise on a positive way forward and seek feedback. One of the key issues discussed was the need to initiate a programme to help and support Kahungunu men.

Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated Chairman Ngahiwi Tomoana said “A Tane Purotu programme is needed to help our men”.

“A Tane Purotu programme will encourage men to come out of their streets, out of their homes and their places to enhance a bigger group of tane to unite in learning waiata, haka and cultural values that will enhance he tangata tiaki wahine, he tangata whangai tamariki, he tangata manaaki whanau and therefore a safer community” said Ngahiwi Tomoana.

Iwi representatives are well aware of the statistics and the effect of violence among the people and the iwi ‘Violence Free Strategy’ and other programmes and strategies are being developed to help build a vibrant healthy whanau and community.

ENDS

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