Marchers say family violence is not OK
The movement against family violence is on a roll in Waitakere.
More than 1000 people took time out today to support the White Ribbon Day march from Waitakere Hospital to the Civic
Square at Waitakere Central.
The march, organised by the Waitemata District Health Board, the Police and Waitakere City Council was at least twice as
big as last year’s, says Waitakere City’s Advocate-Family Violence Prevention Carol Everard.
“Last year there would have been about 400 people. This year’s turnout reflects the feeling that the community wants to
see an end to violence in families. It was a very encouraging sight,” she says.
A number of the marchers were council staff who were encouraged to show their opposition to family violence by chief
executive Harry O’Rourke.
They were also supporting the Mayoral Taskforce against Family Violence co-chaired by Mayor Bob Harvey and Dr Pita
Sharples.
Mayor Harvey led the march under the banner ‘Family Violence – It’s Not OK in Waitakere’.
He was accompanied by the Hon David Cunliffe, Minister of Health, Dr Pita Sharples (co-leader of the Maori Party),
Labour MP Lynne Pillay, Maori Party MP Hone Harawira, Waitakere City representatives Cr Linda Cooper and Cr Peter Chan
and Inga Tuigamala.
The latter, with Mayor Harvey and actress Robyn Malcolm are the current faces of the campaign against family violence in
Waitakere.
The singing, chanting, good natured crowd was cheered by numerous spectators as it made its way along Lincoln Road, down
Corbans Hill and along Henderson Valley Road to Waitakere Central where it was addressed by the Mayor, Minister
Cunliffe, Dr Sharples and Mr Tuigamala.
Mayor Harvey said that while Waitakere has not got the problem of family violence nailed, there was some good work being
done with the taskforce and a variety of other initiatives in the city.
“I am delighted to see so many people – this is a big improvement on last year and it’s great that so many young people
and children are here,” said Mayor Harvey.
“We must keep working together to rid this wonderful city of the scourge that is family violence. Family violence – it’s
not OK!”
ENDS