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Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated is dedicated to strengthening strong, vibrant, healthy whanau.
The Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Violence Free Strategy that was launched at Ruahapia Marae in 2007 has continued to have great effect in Wairoa, Wairarapa and Te Upoko o Te Ika. Immediately after the launch, Kahungunu rangatahi were given the opportunity to participate in several wananga to learn about Violence and its effects in our schools, our homes and communities. It gave rangatahi a closer look at the issues surrounding violence and the effects of violence in all its forms. Rangatahi participants discovered how violence can destroy a person and therefore a whole whanau/hapu and generation. For this purpose rangatahi wanted to share positive messages and ways we can create a Violence Free Iwi with the community. One way to share the message was through a production of dance, music, and drama. The ‘Kahungunu Violence Free production was called ‘Whakamoe Patu’ and it was delivered to several communities in the Kahungunu rohe and in Gisborne and Wellington.
Last month a hui a iwi celebration dinner was held at Mihiroa Marae Paki Paki Hastings. The hui was an opportunity for iwi leaders to acknowledge where the Kahungunu Violence Free Strategy came from, report on its progress, advise on a positive way forward and seek feedback. Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated’s Chairman Ngahiwi Tomoana, acknowledged the current Criminal Justice issues and connected them to the lack of education and self esteem due to a breakdown in our current mainstream education system. To resolve these issues, the iwi has identified Kahungunu Cultural Standards that can be implemented into all education centres throughout Kahungunu to ensure our people are well informed, well educated and well prepared to meet the challenges of the adult life. Ngahiwi mentioned that Te Wero, the Kahungunu Violence Free Advisory Group are looking to initiate a programme that will focus on supporting Kahungunu men to see the good in themselves and those around them and in doing so, convey this goodwill in their whanau/hapu to build a safe and happy community. Guest speaker Moana Jackson spoke about the Criminal Justice statistics and how Maori are over-represented at every stage of the Criminal Justice process which means our people are more likely to be prosecuted, more likely to be convicted, and more likely to be sentenced to imprisonment. Moana also highlighted the Maori women imprisonment has doubled over the years. Moana says that these kind of statistics need to be acknowledged and that a way forward would be to support a Maori Kaupapa run prisons by Maori for Maori to help eliminate reoffending and further crimes.
Responses from iwi community workers included much frustration in the current system and highlighted the great need to not only deal with the current system but provide programmes and opportunities to help whanau avoid getting to this stage. One member of the community suggested that we need to have budgeting advisory, literacy, parenting and community support programmes available for whanau to offer self improvement. Some feedback included services that are currently available, and perhaps as a people in our community, our duty could be simply to inform our whanau/hapu, our networks, our people. All comments and feedback forms were collected and will greatly contribute to the review of the Kahungunu Violence Free Strategy to reflect the views and aspirations of the whanau/hapu.
To keep abreast of the Kahungunu Violence Free Strategy, please contact the Kahungunu Violence Free Coordinator: Roy Pewhairangi 06 8762718 extn 701 or check out our website: www.kahungunu.iwi.nz
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