MEDIA RELEASE
Orewa, 30th July 2007.

Available for immediate publication.

New campaign tackles family violence

Rodney District Council is one of a number of agencies supporting the launch of a new campaign to raise awareness about family violence in Rodney.

The council’s safer communities co-ordinator, Paul Green, says Rodney is not an exception when it comes to the country’s appalling family violence statistics.

“Unfortunately, family violence is a problem in Rodney, and we want people to know it is happening here and that it affects local people everyday,” says Mr Green.

In twelve months:

- Rodney Police received 976 calls relating to family violence

- 645 children were present when Rodney Police attended family violence call-outs.

- Residential and outreach services in Rodney supported 410 women and children

- Stopping Violence Services spent 2,040 hours helping Rodney men to be non-violent

The campaign is being spearheaded by Te Rito Rodney, a local organisation that co-ordinates eight agencies in the implementation of family violence prevention projects.

Te Rito Rodney co-ordinator, Diane Woolson-Neville, says the campaign is being launched with a series of posters showing familiar settings that illustrate family violence can exist behind the scenes anywhere.

“The posters imply that although mostly unseen, family violence can be part of everyday life for everyday people,” says Ms Woolson-Neville.

Women’s Refuge, Rodney Police, Homebuilders Family Support, Victim Support, the South Kaipara Men and Family Centre, Women’s Centre and Rodney Stopping Violence Services are all behind the campaign and will be distributing posters for display in high traffic areas such as doctors surgeries, dairies and banks.

ENDS