Communities keep battling violence
I want to say a big thank you to all those who worked tirelessly over the festive season to keep our communities safer and support those in need. That said, we need to remind ourselves of a few unpalatable facts:
2018 is a big year in terms of reducing family violence.
2018 marks the 10-year anniversary of the brutal murder of Sophie Elliot, by her narcissistic ex-boyfriend Clayton Weatherston.
2018 is the year that Moko Rangitoheriri would have started his first year of school, if he hadn’t have been tortured and killed at the hands of his ‘carers’, Tania Shailer and David Haerewa.
2018 also represents the 10-year anniversary of Taranaki Safe Families Trust becoming a collaborative of agencies working towards family violence prevention initiatives in Taranaki.
We have made so much progress working in Taranaki with local businesses, schools, local communities and organisations. However, family violence is still rife in our community. This year I’m asking for your help to put an end to it.
If you notice a friend is more withdrawn than usual, or you notice unexplained injuries or behaviour, don’t hesitate to ask if they are OK.
Call any mates out if they joke about violence towards others.
Check on your elderly family members or neighbours to ensure they’re OK.
Contact Taranaki Safe Families Trust for free family violence prevention training, and support on how to initiate a family violence prevention campaign in your workplace.
Become a Waitara It’s Not OK champion if you live in Waitara.
Make enthusiastic consent the basis of all intimate relationships.
Call the police if you hear neighbours arguing.
If you know a child is being exposed to family violence, report it to 0508 FAMILY.
What goes on behind closed doors IS our business, because only we can stop another death like Sophie or Moko’s from happening.
If you have behaved in a way that is hurting your family or friends, now is the time to seek help. Head to taranakisafefamilies.org.nz to find an agency that will support you to become a better person in 2018.
Katy Wilson is the coordinator of Taranaki Safe Families Trust.