White Ribbon week calls for end to violence

Reported family violence rates in New Zealand are soaring and more has to be done to stop it, says Te Runanga o Raukawa counsellor Te Ao Pritchard.

Organisers of White Ribbon anti-domestic violence events planned for next week hope that more awareness of family violence will make people realise it is not acceptable.

On Wednesday, the Super Maori Fullas Ride '09 rolls into Palmerston North's Te Hotu Mana O Rangitaane O Manawatu Marae on Maxwell's Line.

There will be a public meeting for anyone interested in attending, from 7pm.

They will be joined by riders from the Patriot Motorcycle Club, whose members are drawn from New Zealand defence force staffers.

The ride, organised by the Families Commission, starts in Wellington on Wednesday, and will head north, taking about a week over the trip to spend time in communities en route.

Any motorcyclist with a current licence and a registered bike can join the ride, but they have to pledge to never condone violence against women and children, and to donate cans of food to their town or city's local women's refuge.

Pritchard said the ride was a terrific chance for the community to stand up and speak out against family violence. "There's a growing intolerance of violence. White Ribbon Day is an opportunity to ensure that our community understands that violence is not OK."

Police statistics released this month show that they responded to 82,692 incidents and offences relating to family violence in the last year, and 23 murders in the last year were classified as family violence murders.

These statistics show the increase in reported family violence went up 13.5 per cent in the last year, on top of a 28.8 per cent increase the previous year.

The only positive thing was that people were, in fact, seeing and reporting family violence as crime, instead of shrugging it off as just a domestic incident.

November 25 is also a day on which Highbury celebrates its cultural diversity.

The suburb, hurt by gang violence in 2002, has spent years rebuilding its community.

The cultural diversity day will be held at Farnham Park, with entertainment from west-side schools and preschools, and food stalls from many of the ethnic groups who live in Highbury.

Its organisers hope the Supa Maori Fullas Ride will arrive in Palmerston North in time to get to the event late on Wednesday afternoon, but arrangements were still being finalised.

Feilding has also planned White Ribbon Day events, on November 27.

Social service agency Te Manawa Services will host a food and entertainment in Feilding's Manchester Square between 11am and 2pm.

- © Fairfax NZ News