Increased family violence funding must enhance support for kaupapa Māori initiatives
The Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence and Sexual Violence, Marama Davidson announced an additional $114.5 million operating funding over the next four years to support the elimination of whanau and sexual violence.
11 May 2022
Researchers leading ‘He Waka Eke Noa’, a project dedicated to identifying Māori led solutions to addressing the impact of violence on whānau say targeted funding in Budget 2022 highlights continued movement by the coalition government to increase resources.
He Waka Eke Noa an MBIE funded Endeavour Research project led by Ngā Wai A Te Tūī, has driven in-depth investigation into the impact of violence on whānau and the importance of Māori led solutions.
The research team acknowledges Marama Davidson for her dedication to working alongside the Māori advisory group to align the Government’s joint venture on family violence and sexual violence. It also acknowledges Jan Logie who contributed to significant shifts in the sector.
Professor Leonie Pihama says the increased funding must include the redistribution of resource and reshaping current ways of thinking to prioritise kaupapa Māori solutions.
“We would like to see a higher proportion of funding allocated to kaupapa Māori in the next budget rounds, especially given the high impact of violence upon Māori not only in regard to family and sexual violence but also in regard to the violence perpetrated by the state and its agencies.”
He Waka Eke Noa research has identified the integral role of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in ensuring whānau Māori are provided with the care and support they deserve.
“Each Ministry engaged in the governments Te Aorerekura - National Strategy to Eliminate Family Violence and Sexual Violence need to be more active in embedding Te Tiriti o Waitangi based relationships to ensure Kaupapa Māori is a part of all sectors contributing to the wider agenda of reducing violence at individual, collective, personal and structural levels,” says Professor Pihama.
The funding distribution highlights ongoing commitment to some existing programmes and an indication that there will be a greater emphasis on Tangata Whenua led initiatives.
However, there’s ongoing concern that government departments such as Health, the Ministry for Children, Courts, Police and Community Probations continue to take a large proportion of the funding allocation to address foundational skills and knowledge gaps. Far too often the equal or larger investment and distribution of resource required in the area of hapū and iwi community workforce development and capability are disregarded.
Early results from He Waka Eke Noa research have highlighted serious issues with State agencies and their ability to provide for Māori in this area, a recent survey identified a number of Ministry’s aqre continuing to impose State violence upon whanau.
Over the past few months Professor Linda Smith and Professor Leonie Pihama have hosted a series of online forums and seminars presenting evidence generated through research conducted for ‘He Waka Eke Noa’ which has attracted national and international audiences.
To view the online webinars please visit Ngā Wai A Te Tūī
For more information or interviews contact
shirleysimmonds@gmail.com - 021 037 9364
lpihama@unitec.ac.nz - 021 2741177
