Inaugural Amokura Awards Recipients

Ten awards were presented at the launch of the Inaugural Amokura Awards last night.

The Forum North Conference centre was touched with a hint of anticipation at the end of the first day of the Amokura Conference.

The NZ Children’s Commissioner, Cindy Kiro, greeted the 200 participants from Cape Reinga to Helensville followed by audio visual presentations, stage performances, a drum-per-person team building and communication exercise, and workshops to broaden discussion on preventing violence in communities carried them through to the awards.

The Family Violence Prevention Consortium introduced the Amokura Awards to recognise, acknowledge and honour the contribution people have made to well being and preventing violence and abuse in the community.

The recipients were chosen by the seven iwi authorities in Tai Tokerau, Northland that drive the Family Violence Prevention Consortium.

The recipients were:

Te Aupouri

1. Anaru and Mani Ihaka of Te Kao, from the Aupouri Youth Trust.

2. Mariameno Kapa, of Te Kao, currently working with Whanau Whanui of Ngati Hine Health Trust.

Te Rarawa

3. Mereana Ngaropo an expert in working with whanau for Te Oranga.

Ngati Kahu

4. Tina Perry of Takahue, Whare Timatatanga Maori Women’s Refuge in Kaitaia.

Whaingaroa

5. Hakopa Adams (posthumous award)

6. Rosie (Roiho) Renata of Whaingaroa, volunteer community worker

Ngapuhi

7. Tony Brooking of Kawakawa, Mahi Aapunga advocate and tutor (traditional weaponry)

8. Mereana Hemara, a founding figure in social services for Ngapuhi

Ngati Whatua

9. Adell Dick and Yvonne Boyd, sisters from Kaiwaka, JPs, counsellors and founders of Te Korowai Aroha o Ngati Whatua

Ngati Wai

10. Pona and Lizzie Matenga of Whangarei, recently honoured QSM’s, kaumatua and kuia community volunteers

Amokura Feather Presentation

A further feature of the Amokura Awards dinner was the presentation of the Amokura feather to the Family Violence Prevention Consortium in a moving ceremony conducted by Pona Matenga, Moe Milne and Michelle Wi.

The Amokura Conference continues at Forum North in Whangarei today, and closes this afternoon.

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