Pacific communities launch community-led solutions to violence
Tue 13 Feb 2024
Over several months in 2023, 6 Pacific communities launched Champions of Change solutions to tackle violence.
Pacific community-led solutions to violence
The Nga Vaka o Kāiga Tapu Champions of Change initiative empowers Pacific communities to tackle violence by embracing their rich cultural heritage:
Champions of Change is aimed at fostering holistic and culturally embedded social environments that empower Pacific peoples to address and prevent family violence.
Champions of Change partners with Pacific ethnic specific communities. The 8 Pacific communities involved are focused within the Auckland and Waikato regions and include Kiribati, Tuvalu, Niue, Tokelau, Fiji, Cook Islands, Tonga, and Samoa ethnic groups.
Community representatives who have completed the Nga Vaka o Kāiga Tapu training programmes have come together over many months to talk about, develop and create a community-led solution for tackling violence. The community representatives include community leaders, practitioners, young people, parents, church ministers, professionals, elders, frontline practitioners and everyday Pacific people who volunteer their time.
Each community developed an approach unique for their community, including church and youth communities, intergenerational and gender related groups. This approach celebrates the diverse aspects of Pacific culture and identity. Over the last few months, the groups have been launching their solutions including:
- Tūgaki ke Olatia from the Tokelau Champions of Change (launched July 2023)
- Sokotakiga I Toman from the Tuvalu Champions of Change (launched July 2023)
- Te Wa Ni Mwaane from the Kiribati Youth Champions of Change (launched July 2023)
- Lalaga Fakatupuolamoui from the Niue Intergenerational Champions of Change (launched August 2023)
- Tekivu Mai Jerusalemi from the Fiji Men's Champions of Change (launched September 2023)
- Taka'i'anga Nō Apōpō from the Cook Islands Champions of Change women's group (launched October 2023).
And launching soon will be solutions from the Tongan Church Champions of Change and the Samoan Church Champions of Change.
Information about each Champions of Change group including change agent profiles, community highlights and overviews of the community approach are on the Nga Vaka o Kāiga Tapu Champions of Change webpages. Follow updates in the Champions of Change (Nga Vaka o Kāiga Tapu) Facebook page.
The training and community solutions draw on the Nga Vaka o Kāiga Tapu cultural frameworks from 8 ethnic specific Pacific islands – Niue, Samoa, Cook Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Fiji, Kiribati and Tuvalu.
Nga Vaka o Kāiga Tapu is a social change initiative facilitated by the Cause Collective that uses Pacific cultural values to help prevent family violence amongst Pacific families and communities. If you would like to know more or get involved with a specific Pacific Community, contact ngavaka@thecausecollective.org.nz.
You can read more about the Champions of Change progress from previous Pasefika Proud updates Championing Change in Our Communities and Nga Vaka o Kāiga Tapu going from strength to strength.
Related news
The National Pacific Practitioners' Fono was held in July 2023. The National Pacific Practitioners’ Fono Report 2023 identifies the key themes and messages from the Fono to inform future planning and implementation with a focus on frontline practice, workforce development and practitioner wellbeing. Following the national Fono, regional fono are being organised in 6 locations: Northland (November 2023), Auckland, Bay of Plenty/Waikato/Taranaki (combined 22 March 2024), Tairawhiti/Hawkes Bay (combined), Wellington (November 2023), and the South Island (Invercargill 29 February 2024). For more information see the first newsletter email from the National Family Violence and Sexual Violence Pacific Practitioners' Forum. For information and to participate in the National Family Violence and Sexual Violence Pacific Practitioner’s Forum online fono contact pasifikalead@toah-nnest.org.nz or subscribe to updates.
Niue communities in Aotearoa New Zealand and Pasefika Proud launched Moui Olaola, National Niue Strategic Wellbeing Plan 2023-2025 in October 2023. Moui Olaola outlines 5 strategic wellbeing priorities along with strategic wellbeing national actions and ongoing regional actions. Also see the previously launched Lalawa Ni Tiko Vinaka: the National Fijian Wellbeing Plan 2022-2025 and Kāiga Tokelau Wellbeing National Strategic Plan 2022-2026.
In October 2023, The Cause Collective signed a Memorandum of Understanding with NZ Police, collaborating to prevent family violence among Pacific families and communities. The Nga Vaka o Kāiga Tapu news story highlights that under the partnership:
"The NZ Police’s commitment to the Pasifika National Strategy, “O Le Taeao Fou” (Dawn of a New Day), is a pivotal aspect of this partnership. The strategy focuses on three key areas: enhancing the well-being of Pasifika communities, equipping police staff to engage positively with these communities, and aligning police priorities with partners to achieve better outcomes."
And that:
"The Cause Collective will provide essential support, deliver training programmes, and funding to each Champions of Change community for their action plans. The NZ Police will support community learning, collaborate with Champions to explore safe community reporting practices, and share insights to inform the implementation of action plans."
After more than a decade of work, Pasefika Proud is commissioning an evaluation of their work. Pasefika Proud is a social change movement – ‘by Pacific for Pacific’ – to boost wellbeing for Pacific families and transform attitudes, behaviours and norms that enable violence.
Pacific Allied (Women’s) Council Inspires Faith Ideals Concerning All Incorporated (PACIFICA Inc) published the report A Wellbeing Report Voices from Pacific Women and Girls in Aotearoa, New Zealand (2023). PACIFICA Inc surveyed Pacific women and girls, aged between 13 to 78 years, and held talanoa to hear their perspectives about the challenges they face, their strengths and their hopes and goals for the future. For more information see the Pasefika Proud story Being heard – voices from Pacific women and girls, the news story from Te Manatū mō ngā Iwi ō te Moana-nui-ā-Kiwa | Ministry for Pacific Peoples, the article from Tagata Pasifika on PACIFICA Inc reveal new report that looks to elevate voice of Pacific women in New Zealand and interview with Repeka Lelaulu, President of PACIFICA Inc on 531pi.
Related media
Gender equality and family planning in the Pacific: Part One, RNZ, 17.11.2023
Our Pacific neighbours are allies, not beneficiaries, The Post, 17.11.2023
Fathers Fono - The importance of culture within our families, Pacific Media Network, 06.11.2023
Pasifika rates in care raise bias concerns, Otago Daily Times, 28.09.2023
Image: Signing of the MOU between the Cause Collective and NZ Police, October 2023. Photo provided by the Cause Collective with permission.
