Bikers ride for White Ribbon Day

Shane Henry, 50, grew up in a house full of domestic violence, so he thought it was OK to yell and scream at his partner.

"My dad used to beat my mother."

The violence began on a Wednesday, when his father was paid, and ended on Friday, once all his earnings had been guzzled at the pub, Mr Henry said. "I used to cuddle my brothers and sisters when my dad was beating my mum."

But as a young man, he realised that verbal abuse did as much damage as a punch or kick, and the father of five was strong enough to seek help. "I broke the cycle.

"We need men to step forward and admit that they're violent towards their wives, girlfriends, mothers, grandmothers."

Mr Henry is the sergeant-at-arms of the Patriots Defence Force Motorcycle Club's Hauraki chapter, and was in Palmerston North yesterday to spread the message that domestic violence is not OK.

On average, every year 14 women throughout the country died at the hands of their partners or ex-partners, while one in five women would experience sexual assault or interference in her lifetime, MP and Ministerial Committee on Family Violence chairwoman Tariana Turia said.

"Today men around the world are being encouraged to stand up against violence towards women and children, and I call on them not only to heed that message today but for every day of their life."

Police dealt with over 73,000 family violence incidents in the 2008-09 financial year, and in most cases women were the primary victims, Mrs Turia said.

The ride, organised by the Families Commission as part of the White Ribbon campaign, began in Wellington yesterday. Four groups of riders set off on different routes and will meet in Auckland tomorrow, before an expected 1000 bikers travel to Whangarei.

Four Kaitaia brothers dubbed the "Super Maori Fullas" instigated the nationwide ride to spread the message to stop violence in the home.

Roger Rawiri was part of the Palmerston North-bound contingent that rolled into Te Hotu Manawa O Rangitaane O Manawatu Marae last night for a hui.

The father of six said he was raised in a loving home where violence did not exist. "Dad was too busy bringing up 11 kids to be violent."

Mr Rawiri said no one answer existed to eradicating domestic violence, but he hoped the ride and the White Ribbon campaign would send the message out.

- © Fairfax NZ News