Safer Central Hawke’s Bay Violence Free CHB White Ribbon Month Wrap Up

We are excited to share the news from Violence Free CHB on the events they undertook as part of White Ribbon month.

Violence Free CHB is a workstream of Safer Central Hawke’s Bay which was established in the Central Hawke’s Bay community in 2012.  The workstream’s goals are to:

• Champion a whole of community approach to family harm prevention
• Encourage and empower community led solutions to family harm
• Build Safety
• Support the work of family harm providers in our community

Below is a summary of the initiatives of Violence Free CHB during White Ribbon Month of 2022.

Safer CHB Precinct

The month began with our presence at the Safer CHB precinct at our local CHB A & P show on Saturday 12^th November.   This annual show brings town and country together and all of our Safer CHB partners participate to share their injury prevention, safety and wellbeing messages to the public.

Rob Veale

We then hosted trainer and educator Rob Veale in the district where he delivered a workshop for professionals.  This  aigns with the group’s goal of supporting the work of family harm providers in the community.   It is the first time we have been able to invite Rob to our community and we are grateful to ACC for providing a grant to assist with costs.  Feedback for those who attended was overwhelmingly positive and we are already planning the next workshop.

Rob then presented at a public event that night in Waipukurau with around 30 people in attendance.  For many it was their first-time hearing about the realities of family violence and its effects on our community.

The evening began with refreshments and as always we took the opportunity to promote our violence free messages and all participants took home a Safer CHB goody bag of information.

White Ribbon Business Packs and Displays

All main street businesses and social service and health organisations in Waipukurau and Waipawa were provided with a bag of White Ribbon resources.  We have had amazing support from our local businesses with most happily promoting White Ribbon week in their shops or workplaces and providing pick up points for White Ribbons to members of the public.  We also had displays in both of our libraries, health centre and several other organisations.

Throughout the week we also ran a social media campaign via our Safer CHB facebook page and local CHB District Council facebook page as well as a far-reaching media release in our local CHB Mail which goes to every household in the district.

Greenpatch Display

For some time we have wanted to create visual message to our community highlighting some of the more sobering facts around family violence.  This year we achieved our goal by setting up the display below on our “Greenpatch” in Waipukurau – a piece of green space in the heart of Waipukurau.  From the feedback and comments we received we know that this display resonated with many people and provided a catalyst for many discussions amongst our community.

White Ribbon Ambassadors

Our greatest achievement and cause for celebration this year was the announcement of our two White Ribbon Ambassadors.  Mayor Alex Walker presented Ian Sharp and Jackie Aitchison with their certificates and a gift at an event in Waipukurau.  The media release that followed the presentation noted:

Central Hawke’s Bay proud to introduce White Ribbon Ambassadors

Central Hawke’s Bay has taken another significant step toward safer communities, with Mayor Alex Walker appointing the district’s first White Ribbon Ambassadors, Ian Sharp and Jackie Aitchison.

In this country most violence against women takes place in the home, with an average of 14 women a year killed by their partners or ex-partners.

White Ribbon Ambassadors are community members who play a vital role in building support, visibility and developing a shared understanding of the White Ribbon campaign and its overarching anti-violence messaging.

Mayor Alex Walker says: “Jackie and Ian are part of the Safer CHB Violence Free network, which raises awareness of family violence, and its effect on our local communities. Both have devoted so much to the cause already and I know they will be wonderful champions to spread the White Ribbon word even further.”

“Sadly, our community is not immune to family harm – but we hope by increasing visibility, support and having two passionate people in this vital role, we can take steps toward delivering practical help to those who need it most.”
White Ribbon Day, held last Friday, celebrated the many men willing to show leadership and commitment to promote safe, healthy relationships within families and encourage them to challenge each other on abusive attitudes and behaviour.

To join or find out more about becoming involved with Safer CHB Violence Free network, email: christiner@chbdc.govt.nz

AUTHORISED BY DOUG TATE
Media Contact
Mayor Alex Walker, Central Hawke’s Bay District Council  | T 06 857 8060 | M 027 860 7752

Ian and Jackie are pictured below with Central Hawkes’ Bay Mayor Alex Walker. Violence Free CHB thanks Ian and Jackie for their commitment and looks forward to what the future holds with our two White Ribbon Ambassadors assisting with raising the profile of family harm prevention in Central Hawke’s Bay.

News from the Joint Venture Te Puna Aonui

We are delighted to share news from the Joint Venture about developments in the violence prevention sector.

The first annual Te Aorerekura hui took place in July and key themes this year included addressing equities, Tangata Whenua leadership, activating the power of communities, working together and strengthening relationships, and working toward a shared pathway.

MSD has significantly improved the online help available for people affected by family violence, including a new website to support behaviour change for users of violence. The online tools are intended to make it easier for people to access help, understand whether their relationship is healthy, and Ruth achieve behaviour change. The redeveloped Are you okay? website now provides 24/7 telephone and online web chat help for victims and survivors of family violence and those supporting them to be safe. They have also added  new tools including a check it out quiz for people who are concerned about their relationship and a service finder  tool which will be used on other websites to make access to services easier. MSD has also launched a new website In Your Hands for people who use violence.

This month new Firearms Prohibition Orders will come into effect from 16 November. The purpose of these court orders is to protect the public from harm by prohibiting ‘high-risk’ offenders from accessing, being around, or using firearms or other restricted with them such as pistols or airguns.

The children’s Flexi fund as a Police – Oranga Tamariki initiative that was launched in December 2020 that has now provided additional support for nearly 1500 children affected by family harm. More information about the fund, including the application form, can be found here.

It’s great to see elements of the Action Plan announced last year are beginning to appear. We hope you will be able to make good use of these new resources.

Te Puna Aonui brings 10 government agencies together to align whole-of-government strategy, policy and investment to eliminate family violence and sexual violence.

* Te Puna Aonui includes:
Ara Poutama Department of Corrections
Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga Ministry of Education
Manatū Hauora Ministry of Health
Te Tāhū or te Ture Ministry of Justice
Te Manatū Whakahiato Ora Ministry of Social Development – Ngā Pirihimana o Aotearoa New Zealand Police
Oranga Tamariki Ministry for Children
Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission
Te Puni Kokiri Ministry of Māori Development
Te Kaporeihana Āwhina Hunga Whare ACC

New White Ribbon ambassador a Presbyterian Church minister who brings Pasefika woman’s perspective

New Ambassador Hana Popea is a Presbyterian Church minister who aims to create a church support network to help prevent and stop violence towards women and children.

The Reverend Hana Popea has been appointed a White Ribbon ambassador for the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand, and an Ambassador by White Ribbon NZ. The Presbyterian Church has a long-time commitment to supporting White Ribbon.

Hana brings a Pasefika perspective to issues of family violence in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Born in Samoa, she studied at Samoa College. She has a Bachelor of Theology and Post Graduate Diploma of Ministry from University of Otago. She was ordained as a Presbyterian minister in 2005 and has been in parish ministry for 17 years.  Hana has been minister at St Ninian’s Uniting Church in Karori, Wellington, since 2016.  She is married to David Dell.

Passionate about children and families’ ministry, Hana’s work with White Ribbon will be informed by her interest in family violence prevention and her ongoing study and work with children and youth around resilience. This important part of her ministry is informed by her work as a minister, her experiences as a Pasefika woman, and as a mother raising a young man.

Her experiences have made her realise that there’s a big gap between listening and actively hearing the silent suffering of women and children who experience violence and abuse within our society.

She says that churches have an important role to play in closing this gap. “We have many people in our churches who are already working and volunteering with organisations in their communities to prevent violence towards women and children. The challenge is to connect them with each other, with other churches, cultures and with White Ribbon, so they can access training and resources to share.”

Hana says her mission for the kaupapa of White Ribbon is to help others to find their voice, to break the cycle of abusive behaviour, to create an open talanoa process and to facilitate educational programmes towards healing, caring, and the restoration of healthy relationships.

She dreams of helping to make New Zealand a place where healthy relationships thrive, positive attitudes are empowered, and loving and safe environments are the daily experience for all women and children.