MEDIA STATEMENT
THURSDAY APRIL 21 2011

Domestic Violence Conference Challenges Politicians

MPs from the major political parties will front up on the issue of family violence at the national conference of Te Kupenga – the National Network of Stopping Violence – in June.

Toitoi Manawa: Inspiring Change will bring together a cross-section of innovative presenters and participants from community and government to share, inspire and lead thinking in preventing domestic violence.

The annual hui will be held at Wellington’s Tapu Te Ranga Marae from Wednesday June 8 to Friday June 10.

Te Kupenga national manager Brian Gardner says the political panel will be critical and timely given significant ‘reprioritisation' of family violence funds as well as several other major proposals on child abuse and the Family Court which are being announced by the Government this week.

The political panel – ‘what will you do to address domestic violence’ – will be chaired by Chief District Court Judge Russell Johnson on the first day of the national conference (Wednesday June 8 at 4.30 pm start).

Confirmed MPs include Tariana Turia (Maori Party), Chester Burrows (National Party), Charles Chauvel (Labour Party), Heather Roy (ACT), Jim Anderton (Progressive) and Catherine Delahunty (Green Party).

Three initiatives have recently lost government funding: Te Rito community family violence prevention; advocates for children and young people who witness family violence; and family violence education services.

Gardner urges family violence services throughout the country to apply for the new Family-Centred Services Fund. Applications close on April 29.

“As can be seen by the increase in reports of domestic violence in the police annual crime statistics, domestic violence continues to be the number one social issue we have yet to address,” Mr Gardner says.

“With the upcoming general election later this year, the national conference will be a perfect opportunity to discuss the issue of domestic violence with the decision-makers themselves.”

For more information, go to www.nnsvs.org.nz.

ENDS

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