August 09, 2015
E Tu Koutu
Beating family violence has become the focus of the Koutu community in Rotorua.
On Friday Rotorua service providers were joined by members of the local community at Te Koutu Marae to discuss a report by the Ministry of Women's Affairs on measures to prevent violence against Maori women.
Ministry principal analyst Helen Potiki says that while it's not an exciting thing to talk about the positive thing is that everyone in the room wanted change and was impatient for change.
And on Saturday evening the discussion moved from the Marae to the adjacent Karenga Park where 8 candles were lit to mark the 8 birthdays toddler Nia Glassie has missed since she was murdered as a result of family violence which drew the attention of the nation in 2007.
Local MP and Maori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell , who has called on Maori to make their voice heard on proposed new family violence laws, told the 100 or so gathered that the great thing is that the community is standing up against family violence.
Roku Mihinui, representing Maori initiative E Tu Whanau says the people of Koutu are reclaiming their community and making a stance against violence within families.
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