Everyday Communities Launch In Wairarapa

Media Release 13/5/2002

Everyday Communities Launch In Wairarapa

Embargoed till 1am Monday 13 May

Child, Youth and Family is supporting Wairarapa’s new ’Rise Above It’ anti-violence campaign by introducing its award-winning Everyday Communities education programme to the district.

Everyday Communities, a child well-being and anti-abuse programme using local radio, is being
launched at noon today (13 May) at Masterton’s Skate ‘n’ Blade venue. The theme of the launch is “a celebration of the beginning of a journey towards well-being for all children in the Wairarapa”.

The Everyday Communities programme is already operating in Whakatane, Whanganui and in Pacific communities in Auckland. The pilot operation in Whakatane won the Communication Agencies Association best use of radio award.

The programme in the Wairarpapa involves Government agencies, community groups and the public using local radio to promote messages by local people , programmes to encourage well-being and community activities A weekly radio programme on promoting well-being and preventing abuse will also be a feature in the Wairarapa. Radio stations involved are Classic Hits and Hits 89FM.

“The overall aim of the Everyday Communities programme is to encourage local communities to discuss solutions to the particular child welfare issues that are relevant to their area,” says Child, Youth and Family’s public education team leader Marlane Welsh-Morris.

“The Everday Communties steering group, which includes Te Hau Ora, Maori Women’s Refuge, the South Wairarapa Safer Community Council, the Masterton Safer Community Council and the Department, has worked very hard to get the programme organised. That steering group has had the support of a wide range of organisations in the district, including all the Wairarapa regional councils. This is clearly a community wanting to do things better.

“Whakatane’s Everyday Communities programme has led to a significant uptake in people accessing self-help resources, such as videos and books, on parenting. Local agencies have also been working together even better on child welfare issues. We are confident of repeating that success in Wairarapa and in other centres we will eventually take the programme to,” says Ms Welsh-Morris.

Child, Youth and Family’s chief executive Jackie Pivac says the theme of Everyday Communities is that all New Zealanders have a part to play in preventing child abuse and caring for our children.

“New Zealanders are no longer prepared to tolerate child abuse and Everyday Communities helps local people develop local solutions to local issues.”

ENDS

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