28 May 2005

MEDIA RELEASE

For immediate release

FIRST AMOKURA CONFERENCE

Promoting Whanau Well-being and Preventing Violence

Whangarei will host the inaugural Amokura Conference from 22 to 23 June 2005 at the Forum North Conference Centre in Rust Avenue.

200 people are expected to attend the two day conference, designed to provide Iwi and Social Service providers the opportunity to share strengths, skills and strategies to promote whanau well-being and reduce violence.

The conference theme is Nga Kaupapa Tiketike – Integrity in Practice – Integrity Of Outcomes.

Speakers and workshop facilitators are drawn primarily from locally based providers and practitioner groups.

Amokura Project Coordinator, Di Grennell is looking forward to showcasing the north.

“Many of our Taitokerau providers have been pioneers in developing effective violence prevention strategies and programmes,” says Ms Grennell.

“We want to be able to showcase their work and provide an opportunity for them to share best practice ideas, and ideas for development.”

Other invited speakers include Cindy Kiro, Commissioner for Children, Kataraina Pipi, multiskilled community advocate in Whanau well-being and Tamati Kruger, Chair of the Second Maori Taskforce on Whanau Violence and advocate for the Mauri Ora framework.

Launch of Amokura Awards

Another highlight of the conference is the launch of the Amokura Awards. NZ celebrity and comedian, Pio Terei will present the awards to recipients from Taitokerau.

The Amokura Awards recognise the efforts of people working to promote whanau well-being and reduce violence. The recipients have been chosen by the iwi authorities that form the Family Violence Prevention consortium – Te Aupouri, Te Rarawa, Ngati Kahu, Whaingaroa, Ngapuhi, Ngati Whatua and Ngati Wai.

Through the Amokura Project, the consortium is coordinating a range of activities to support family violence prevention in Taitokerau. Recent activities include the well-attended Step Back concerts in Whangarei and Kaitaia.

ENDS

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