Family Violence Prevention

The Family Violence Network has been supporting children, women, families and community organisations across Waimakariri for over 15 years.

Waimakariri District Council is a partner in Violence Free North Canterbury. We provide coordination and support for this group.

Violence Free North Canterbury is a collaboration of agencies who aim to eradicate family violence in North Canterbury. It will do this by influencing positive social change within the community about family violence issues and empowering the community to send the message that family violence is unacceptable.

Violence Free North Canterbury was previously called North Canterbury Family Violence Network. It has been in existence since the mid-1990s. Meetings are held bi-monthly in February, April, June, August, October and December on the second Tuesday of the month.

There are three components to the family violence prevention project work:

• Raising community awareness of the issue and need for change
• Providing community education opportunities
• Increasing professional capability

Partner Agencies:

• Together Hurunui
• Williams Mckenzie Lawyers
• Social Service Waimakariri
• Wellbeing North Canterbury
• Police
• Oranga Tamarirki
• Te Whare Hauora
• Battered Women’s Trust
• Aviva
• Oxford Community Trust
• Presbyterian Support
• Ministry of Social Development
• Restorative Justice
• Barnardos
• Victim Support
• Maatawaka
• Hope Community Trust
• Corrections
• Ministry of Education
• START
• Stopping Violence Service
• Community Wellbeing North Canterbury

Activities:

• Coordination and support for the North Canterbury Family Violence Network
• Facilitiation of White Ribbon Day initiatives at high schools, with local business and in local media
• Facilitation of Professional Development for people working in and with the community on how to recognise and respond appropriately where there is evidence of abuse
• Facilitation of Community Awareness raising around positive communication and what constitutes safe relationships

Current Projects:

Rainbow Awareness and Family Violence - A Professional Development Day. Click the poster for more information.

Every November the Violence Free North Canterbury Network host a White Ribbon campaign in our local high schools. White Ribbon Day, 25 November, is the international day when people wear a white ribbon to show that they do not condone violence towards women. This year, White Ribbon is talking about the #outdated – stereotypes that boys and men are handed down from their role models. The things we teach our kids about “how to be a man” might seem harmless, but actually carry messages that can create a really negative impact.

We will be running a lunch-time program in three schools (Oxford, Rangiora, Kaiapoi High Schools and Amuri and Hurunui Colleges) alongside our partners from 23-25 November. We are looking forward to engaging with students around these important message.

Resources:

Family Violence referral/support agencies leaflet

For further information contact:

Natalie Paterson
Phone: 0800 965 468
Email: natalie.paterson@wmk.govt.nz