Scheme launched to tackle family harm

A pilot programme designed to address family violence will be added onto an iwi and police justice partnership operating in Taranaki.

Te Pae Oranga Whānau was launched in the region on Monday and will deal with family violence referrals. It represents an extension of the Te Pae Oranga panel process, which was first launched in Taranaki in March last year.

It involves a panel of three members, along with the kaiwhakahaere who co-ordinates the hui. They meet with offenders referred to the process by police.

Ngāruahine Iwi Health Services is in charge of Te Pae Oranga in Taranaki and has worked with police and other family-violence-focused agencies to develop the new pilot.

A pōwhiri to mark the beginning of the fledgling service was held at Aotearoa Marae in Okaiawa on Monday.

In a statement provided by police about the pilot, Ngāruahine Iwi Health Services’ Kaila Teka said family harm affected a lot of people, and iwi and hapū had unique skills and experience to come up with sustainable solutions and make a real difference in the region.

The process will involve the development of a whānau or individual plan, which will consider how to put things right, as well as connecting people to support. Safety of victims would be a key consideration. The pilot will run for 12 months, and it is estimated three referrals would be made every week.