Even though Māori are over represented in the sexual and family violence statistics, it was made clear today that there could be a significant loss of the Māori voice “this is a very difficult environment to operate in” was one comment. The website for the national strategy says “Te Aorerekura draws on Te Tiriti o Waitangi, mātauranga Māori and te ao Māori values to envision a different expectation of how to achieve safety and wellbeing for all people in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Te Aorerekura incorporates these Te Tiriti o Waitangi approaches:
- Article one – Kawanatanga – continuing to build relationships and partnering with iwi and Māori organisations in the delivery and governance of Te Aorerekura.
- Article two – Tino Rangatiratanga – enabling iwi, hapū, whānau, and Māori communities to have full authority (mana motuhake) over their own wellbeing.
- Article three – Oritetanga – working with tangata whenua to strengthen protective factors and achieve equitable outcomes that allow iwi, hapū, whānau, and Māori communities to realise their potential, free of family violence and sexual violence.
An ao Māori focus seeks to be inclusive of all perspectives. Māori and Pacific peoples share a special relationship or va. They are connected by whakapapa with kinship through commonalities of history, culture, oral traditions of origins. Wairuatanga is emerging as something to be considered alongside Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Wairuatanga enables iwi, hapū, whānau and Māori communities to practice ritenga (customs) framed by te ao Māori, enacted through tikanga Māori and encapsulated within mātauranga Māori.”
but its becoming increasing clear that appears to be changing with an announcement by the Minister: “Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence Karen Chhour is today announcing the agency will no longer use the informal name of Te Puna Aonui and will adopt its legal name: the Executive Board for the Elimination of Family Violence and Sexual Violence.
“This decision reflects the reality that all people are potentially victims of Family Violence and Sexual Violence, as well as the wishes of disgruntled former advisory board members who have asked for the gifted Te Reo name to be returned,” says Mrs Chhour.
“They have raised their concerns with me around my decision to not extend their tenure as the Ministerial Advisory Board, as well as concerns around my decision to include other communities in a new, multi-cultural advisory board which will replace the current Māori-only one.”
More to come
