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

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