July 09, 2018
Paepae no place for paedophiles
A Te Arawa artist who instigated a campaign for hapu to bar known paedophiles and abusers from their paepae says allegations about a former Tauranga Moana iwi leader highlights the need for action.
Chanz Mikaere says she respects the courage it has taken Anihere Black to come forward and accuse her late husband Awanui Black of preying on children throughout his adult life.
She’s aware of various Te Arawa marae discussing such issues when one of their own members has been identified as a perpetrator, and says there can be no tolerance for paedos on the pae.
"If all of our rituals that we put in place in our pōhiri are about protecting our most vulnerable, what does that say when some of the violators of that tapu are allowed to speak on our behalf in one of the most sacred positions which is on that paepae," Ms Mikaere says.
From her previous work in addiction services she knows most addicts are dealing with the tapu that was broken by abuse.
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