Manukau City Council says It's Not OK
I am really pleased to see Manukau City Council is the latest in a growing number of councils to say no to family violence.
Last year I attended a one-day national forum in Auckland looking at ways local government can prevent family violence. As a result of that discussion I put family violence on the agenda at the 2009 LGNZ Conference and we held a very successful workshop on the issue.
On Tuesday about 150 people attended the launch of Manukau's Family Violence: It's Not OK campaign, which brings together key organisations to develop a comprehensive response to family violence in the Manukau community.
I applaud Mayor Len Brown's leadership in this work. The only way we can make a difference is by developing a response that involves community leaders, NGOs and all the statutory organisations responsible for the health, social and economic wellbeing of the city and its population.
Family violence is a major social problem for New Zealand. In Counties Manukau alone, there were 12,510 family violence related incidents reported to the police in 2008 and an estimated 35,962 children and young people were exposed to family violence.
The figures are shocking and we all need to find a way to change the environment in which we live into one where It is not OK to be violent.
Because local government works directly in the communities affected by family violence, we have a pivotal role to play in turning around these horrific statistics. We already have an understanding of what does and doesn't work in our own areas and we are in the best position to target and implement programmes like Manukau's.
Manukau residents will see billboards, posters, banners and newspaper advertisements featuring local families and community groups who have agreed to put a Manukau face to the local version of the highly successful It's not OK campaign. In addition to the awareness raising, Tomorrow's Manukau Reducing Family Violence Implementation Group will be exploring ways to stop family violence and the negative impacts on all involved.
The Manukau campaign follows similar local campaigns in Waitakere, Hamilton and Rotorua. Many other councils are also making work around family violence a priority.
The It's not OK campaign is a long term programme to change attitudes and behaviour around family violence. It provides information, resources and support to councils involved in family violence prevention work. There is more information on the campaign website: http://www.areyouok.org.nz/
Lawrence Yule
President, Local Government New Zealand
Posted 1 April 2010
