6 Here-Turi-Koka / August 2012

Maori Anti-Violence Workers Unite For South Island Seminar

A hui for Kai Tahu practitioners working with Maori victims and perpetrators of family and domestic violence – the first to be held in the South Island – is attracting registrations from throughout the country.

The National Network of Stopping Violence, Te Kupenga, will host its Maori best practice training seminar, Kia Rangatira Te Mahi, at Christchurch’s Rehua Marae on Monday and Tuesday, August 27 and 28 2012.

Te Kupenga is a network of 42 independent community-based organisations including 14 kaupapa Maori agencies – from Whangarei to Invercargill – working to end violence and abuse in families.

Parekotuku Moore, Kaihautu (Director Maori Development) at Te Kupenga, says member and non-members agencies in the North Island are turning out in force in a show of solidarity for their Ngai Tahu counterparts.

Te Kupenga has developed a best practice framework for Maori men’s stopping violence programmes – Kia Rangatira Te Mahi – which details performance measures, examples and outcomes for seven key intervention principles.

Stopping violence programme providers can use the framework to adopt in practice, evaluate their work or develop plans to implement within their agencies.

Long-time counsellor Paraire Huata will be the leading facilitator of the South Island hui while Darrin Haimona – author of Kia Rangatira Te Mahi – will discuss the ‘working with whanau’ framework.

Presenters will include Maori anti-violence experts such as Tania Mataki, Daniel Mataki, Nathan Mikaere-Wallis, Te Maiariki Williams and Karaitiana Tickell.

Parekotuku Moore says the training seminar is an opportunity to support the many committed and passionate people working to eliminate violence, abuse and oppression in the quake-ravaged region.

“The Canterbury earthquakes of 2010 and 2011 continue to have a massive impact on demand for family violence crisis intervention services.

“This year, for example, high-risk women and children are living in cars and garages as well as friends' homes after leaving violent households – a shortage of affordable and social housing in Christchurch leaves whanau with few options.

“Our aim is to promote and affirm best practice standards and principles of practice across the public health, iwi social service and family violence sectors as well as building strategic relationships across agencies locally and nationally.”

Kia Rangatira Te Mahi begins with a powhiri at Rehua Marae in Springfield Road, Edgeware, on Monday August 27 at 10.00 am and ends on Tuesday August 28 at 4.00 pm.

To register for the hui or for more information about Te Kupenga, go to the website www.nnsvs.org.nz.

ENDS

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