The Hon Tariana Turia
Maori Party Co-Leader
MP for Te Tai Hauauru

Unsung hero's key to reduction in family violence

Tariana Turia, Maori Party Co-leader, applauds the drop in family violence saying it is a testament to the work of people within their communities and organisations doing the hard yards.

"Recorded family violence related offences dropped 3.1% and included a 2.1% reduction in family violence assaults in national crime statistics released yesterday.

"What we're seeing right now in terms of family violence is significant and I'm really excited by it because what it highlights for me is that the unsung heroes; those who work in the NGO sector, those who work in our communities are making a tangible difference.

"All the work that they do in terms of restoring families self belief and encouraging families to take these issues up for themselves, to find the right support systems, that's what's really working.

Whanau Ora encourages whanau to do just that, self determine their pathway with assistance from both people and services they want, rather than the system determine what they should be doing.

"In the end, it's not the state that changes people's attitudes, it is the people themselves" Mrs Turia said.

"And in saying that, I am placing my faith in the people to now turnaround the appalling statistics in sexual assault to ensure that all New Zealanders are safe in their own homes; safe on the streets; safe in our communities".

ENDS

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