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A Kaitaia women’s refuge has received an unexpected boost from the proceeds of an exhibition of art by inmates of Ngawha Prison.
The annual Inside Out exhibition drew almost 1000 people to the Mairangi Art Centre over the past month to see 80 artworks including paintings, drawings and whakairo Maori.
Once expenses were taken off $7000 was donated to Refuge.
Waimaria Veza from Whare Timatanga Hou Ora says her refuge services for many remote areas of the far north, and money for operating costs is always and issue.
She says the donation was a surprise.
"I can only assume we are receiving it because unfortunately a lot of the partners of the women we work with are or have been through Ngawha Correctional Facility. We accept it with open arms and are grateful the men have decided to provide us with this money from their artwork," she says.
Waimaria Veza from says people are now more willing to report incidents of domestic violence, which gives the refuges a chance to step in and offer support.
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