Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence Karen Chhour. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
A new plan focused on reducing family and sexual violence has been released by the government.
The launch of the second Te Aorerekura Action Plan for the prevention of family violence and sexual violence on Sunday was hosted by Karen Chhour, as Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence. She was supported by the Police Minister Mark Mitchell and the Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston.
Te Aorerekura - the National Strategy to Eliminate Family Violence and Sexual Violence - is a 25-year strategy designed to achieve intergenerational change.
"Three years into the Strategy, this second Action Plan is another important milestone in the life of Te Aorerekura. It builds on progress under the first Action Plan to focus agencies' collective efforts on practical improvements to keep people safe," Chhour said.
"It will also help stop violence, through better services for people who use violence and accelerate progress on investing and commissioning services, that we know will work.
"The Action Plan also provides for improvements to protect children and young people, strengthen workforces, take action on sexual violence, and expand primary prevention.
"These focus areas require deeper collaboration across government to deliver change. Ministers want to see government agencies working more closely together."
Police Minister Mark Mitchell said a central focus for this Action Plan is the improvement of multi-agency responses to violent incidents.
"The Action Plan has a focus on strengthening the way all agencies work together, especially on the ground, in the community. And they need consistent support from central government to make sure we get effective responses, that suit local conditions."
Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston also welcomed the second Action Plan: "Te Aorerekura and its Action Plans give us our best chance of achieving change to address these complex issues together, focused on what works.
"Through a social investment approach, government will be better able to prioritise investments that deliver positive impact for those most at risk of family violence and sexual violence."
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