Latest news with #TePunaAonui
Scoop
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Prevention Of Family And Sexual Violence Agency To Drop Informal Name, Expand Advisory Board Diversity
Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence and Sexual Violence Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence and Sexual Violence Karen Chhour is today announcing it will no longer use the informal name of Te Puna Aonui and will adopt its legal name: the Executive Board for the Elimination of Family Violence and Sexual Violence. 'This decision reflects the reality that all people are potentially victims of Family Violence and Sexual Violence, as well as the wishes of disgruntled former advisory board members who have asked for the gifted Te Reo name to be returned,' says Mrs Chhour. 'They have raised their concerns with me around my decision to not extend their tenure as the Ministerial Advisory Board, as well as concerns around my decision to include other communities in a new, multi-cultural advisory board which will replace the current Māori-only one. 'I need an advisory board that can advise on all issues victim-survivors face, and one that reflects the diversity of our nation, not just the seventeen per cent of New Zealanders who identify as Māori. 'Yes, I am Māori, and proud of this. I am also a mother, a wife, and a survivor of both family and sexual violence. The idea that one part of my being is somehow more important than any other is something I don't accept, and I don't believe that the majority of New Zealanders would accept this either. 'It is also Government policy that Government departments, with the exception of those focused on Māori, will have their main names in English. 'By continuing with a Te Reo name I believe we risk potentially making non-Māori victim-survivors feel like their lived experiences do not matter. I can assure them that they do and will continue to. 'This is the right thing to do, it reflects our national values of equality. 'The important work of the agency will be strengthened by the incorporating Pasifika, Asian communities, and other groups who were deliberately excluded by the scope of the previous Ministerial Advisory Board for this portfolio. 'While Te Puna Aonui is an informal name, not a legal one, it will take time to update the agency's branding and letterhead. 'This is a positive tep forward for the Executive Board for the Elimination of Family Violence and Sexual Violence and for our national response to these hugely important issues.'
NZ Herald
19-05-2025
- Politics
- NZ Herald
Family and sexual violence prevention minister warned of ‘declining police responsiveness'
However, police and Police Minister Mark Mitchell said officers are not attending fewer family violence events that require a police response. They said police are in fact coding 7.7% more family violence events as priority one emergencies. Chhour says the Te Aorerekura Action Plan was launched last year, to help government agencies better collaborate on the issue – enabled by a new technological platform to replace the current system. But Labour says there is 'real alarm' among community providers, and the concerns raised in the document should alarm Chhour as Minister-in-charge. Te Pūkotahitanga provides advice to the Minister, and Te Puna Aonui – a group designed to bring together government agencies on the elimination of family violence, including Education, Health, Police, Justice, Corrections and Oranga Tamariki. In March it provided Chhour with a summary of a recent hui between Matatuhi, a collective of Family and Sexual Violence Māori kaimahi (workers), and police, to discuss their Risk Harm Assessment Framework. It said Chhour had requested the summary to support her engagements with Mitchell. It noted concerns had been raised last December 'about declining police responsiveness to family and sexual violence incidents, including high-risk situations'. The document lists examples of 'delays and misjudgements in police responsiveness', including an assault in one provider's reception area to which police took 50 minutes to respond, and incidents of child to parent violence not being prioritised. 'It's increasingly falling to community providers to ensure whānau are made safe and kept safe in family violence situations due to slow or no police response,' it states. 'This poses a serious risk to kaimahi health and safety.' Labour Police spokeswoman Ginny Andersen says she is also hearing from NGOs who have reported the same issue. 'They're reaching out for help for a situation, either for one of their clients, or a situation in one of their facilities, and they cannot get a police officer once it's been established it's a family violence issue. 'What we are hearing loud and clear is that people aren't coming.' Labour's Family and Sexual Violence spokeswoman Helen White says the concerns are serious enough that the minister responsible should have intervened. 'Her job is to be a zealous advocate for the victims in this country,' she said. 'She's got to get in there and advocate strongly, she's got to go to the Police Minister and say 'that's just not good enough'.' Mitchell says he and Chhour are 'very aligned'. He says police are triaging differently in relation to social issues that are more appropriate for a non-police response, but will continue to respond when there is a serious offence, violence, or an immediate risk to property, life or safety. Mitchell encouraged anyone with specific concerns to raise these directly with police. Police Assistant Commissioner Mike Johnson said the Risk Harm Attendance pilot began in September, and was expanded across all emergency communications and dispatch workers in December. He said requests for police attendance are assessed against criteria of severity, circumstance, attributes and need. Johnson said if it's deemed a physical response is not required, the call is transferred to the 105 online or call taker, after which it is sent to the local Family Harm Team for assessment and appropriate action. 'Police's median response time for family harm events decreased by over three minutes in 2024 compared to 2023.' Johnson said initial feedback suggests the framework's producing positive outcomes, and a decision about its future will be made after a full evaluation next month. Chhour said as the Minister responsible for Te Puna Aonui, she is pleased with their work to break down siloes across the public service. She said the Te Aorerekura Action plan, launched in December, is focused on keeping people safe through multi-agency responses, holding people to account, improving workforce capability and investing in workforces to equip people to assess risk, and share information. 'This work will be enabled by a new technological platform to replace the current family safety system, so that agencies have appropriate information for risk management and safety planning.'
Scoop
12-05-2025
- General
- Scoop
New Family Violence Directory Will Help The Helpers
Minister for the Prevention of Family & Sexual Violence The Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual, Karen Chhour, has launched a one-stop-shop directory for family violence training that will aide support workers to access training that helps them safely recognise and care for people and families affected by family violence. 'The family violence workforce are a deeply caring and thoughtful group who provide support to people and families during the most challenging times of their lives. 'Knowledge around how to best support these people continues to grow, and this directory will allow these frontline heroes to access the latest best practice guidance and find specific training that aligns with the Family Violence Capability Frameworks,' said Mrs Chhour. The Family Violence Entry to Expert Capability Framework outlines the capabilities needed to respond safely and effectively to family violence for different roles and responsibilities. It sets out the expected capabilities of workers and practitioners, supporting them to continuously learn and increase their capability through Essential, Entry, Enhanced, and Expert levels. 'The message from victim survivors has been clear, we need to support this vital workforce by ensuring they are able to support them in ways that enable them to get to safety, stay safe, and start healing. The training directory is another step in our efforts to build an effective system and strengthen the capabilities of those working in it. It's just one way we are helping the helpers,' concluded Karen Chhour. Notes: The Family Violence Training Directory provides an overview of Essential Level and Entry Level family violence training options and their alignment with the Family Violence Entry to Expert (E2E) Capability Framework, including the corresponding capability modules for each level. It offers clear guidance on available training options, helping agencies make informed workforce development decisions. (link here - Family Violence Training Directory | Te Puna Aonui) The Family Violence Training Directory will be updated regularly to reflect new or revised training options, ensuring it remains an accurate and relevant resource. The directory does not facilitate direct access to training materials; agencies and providers must contact training providers separately to arrange sessions.
