Hon Tariana Turia
Associate Minister for Social Development
EMBARGOED TILL 10AM THURSDAY 17 MAY
Media Statement
Ground-breaking approach to addressing Pacific family violence launched
Associate Minister for Social Development, Hon Tariana Turia, today launched Nga Vaka o Käiga Tapu, Pacific Conceptual
Framework for addressing family violence in Pacific communities at an event in Mangere, Auckland.
Minister Turia also launched seven associated specific cultural frameworks for the Cook Islands, Fiji, Niue, Samoa,
Tokelau, Tonga and Tuvalu nations.
“This ground breaking approach to addressing violence in Pacific families uses culture and the unique world view of each
of these Pacific communities to develop solutions to stopping family violence in their New Zealand communities,” said
Mrs Turia.
“Culture is a key element that drives the way we behave and relate to the world, it also shapes our values.
Understanding cultural perspectives and the way people from Pacific communities view the world and applying that to our
practice – the way we work with them – will, I believe, help produce solutions that effect real changes to family
violence incidence in our Pacific communities.”
Mrs Turia “The great thing about these frameworks is that they provide an excellent basis for any range of issues across
the social spectrum. Their starting point is that their own cultural perspectives define the way they relate to the
world. Their focus on cultural strength as a means for achieving wellbeing is to be applauded”.
The frameworks were commissioned by the Ministry of Social Development, and the work was led by the Pacific Advisory
Group which advises government on addressing family violence in Pacific communities.
Pacific Advisory Group Chairman, Fa'amatuainu Tino Pereira, said this work begins a new and courageous way forward for
Pacific communities.
“These frameworks are a start to providing long lasting solutions to addressing family violence in Pacific communities
and leading to wellbeing,” he said
A series of fono were held over a number of months to get ideas from Pacific groups about how best to address family
violence in their communities. This culminated in the Champions for Change fono where members of the Pacific community
and those that work in the Pacific family violence sector came up with a range of solutions including the development of
these frameworks.
All documents, including the Pacific Conceptual Framework, the seven ethnic-specific Pacific frameworks and a literature
review are available on www.familyservices.govt.nz.
ENDS