Fijian Indian family violence prevention campaign launched in Waitakere

A Fijian Indian family violence prevention campaign was launched in Waitakere, Auckland on 24 November 2013. The development of the campaign followed a community meeting in 2012, where over 100 people attended wanting to talk about family violence and what could be done.

Part of the Waitakere Taskforce on Family Violence, the project is a collaborative initiative by the Auckland Council, Ministry of Social Development 'Settling In', the Waitakere Indian Association, Waitakere Anti-Violence Essential Services (WAVES) and New Zealand Police. The project includes a media campaign and resources jointly developed with the Ministry of Social Development's It's Not OK campaign.

The resources include posters and magnets with the It's OK to Ask for Help message, radio advertisements and interviews with religous leaders and family violence professionals. The resources are bilingual (English and Fiji Indian Hindi). The series of radio interviews will be with leaders of the main religions (Hindu, Muslim and Christian) and Fiji Indian family violence professionals. They will be run on three Fiji Indian radio stations.

The Auckland project team is keen to share their campaign and resources with other networks and communities across New Zealand.

The campaign was launched by Judge Ajit Singh, Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi MP, former Families Commissioner and MP Dr Rajen Prasad, Councillor Linda Cooper (Auckland Council) and Inspector Rakesh Naidoo, National Strategic Ethnic Advisor for New Zealand Police.

For more information, see the It's Not OK Campaign website.