Media Release

Embargoed until 3pm

September 24, 2007

Waitakere Mayor Addresses Women’s Issues Forum About Family Violence

Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey today welcomed Minister of Women’s Affairs Lianne Dalziel to the city and talked to her women’s issues forum about the action against family violence campaign he is currently involved in.

The Waitakere campaign is the local version of the government’s national Campaign for Action on Family Violence being led by the Ministry of Social Development.

In Waitakere billboards and newspaper advertisements feature the mayor, former All Black and league legend Va’aiga ‘Inga’ Tuigamala and Outrageous Fortune television star Robyn Malcolm declaring family violence is “not OK in Waitakere”.

“We are taking family violence very seriously in Waitakere because it needs to be taken very seriously,” Mayor Harvey told the forum.

“It was logical and right for us to get in behind the government’s campaign which has a simple message. Family violence is not OK. It is not OK and it’s not OK in Waitakere.”

Mayor Harvey also told those attending the forum about his Mayoral Taskforce against Family Violence which he is co-chairing with Dr Pita Sharples.

The Waitakere campaign was launched on September 5 and Mayor Harvey says he has been encouraged by the huge amount of support he has received for the initiative.

“Being a mayor is all about leadership and that’s what I’m doing in Waitakere. Together we must and can eradicate the scourge that is seeing our women and children killed.”

ENDS

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