Northland whānau continue to demonstrate their support for the E Tū Whānau kaupapa.
This weekend (March 13-14) Ngati Hine leaders plan to publically sign the E Tū Whānau Charter of Commitment at the Te Ahureka o Ngāti Hine Festival. This follows the promotion of the Charter by five Ngāpuhi community groups at Waitangi during this year’s Waitangi Day celebrations.
Te Ahureka o Ngāti Hine Festival to be held at Otiria Marae , Moerewa, will celebrate “Tane Atawhai , Men Who Nurture’’, and highlight the positive role strong men play in their communities.
The CEO of the Ngāti Hine runanga , Pita Tipene, says the Te Ahuareka o Ngāti Hine kaupapa of upholding and uplifting tikanga, reo, beliefs and protocols is in line with E Tū Whānau’s key principles.
“The E Tū Whānau kaupapa encourages and supports our Tane Atawhai programme which we see as an innovative approach, “he said.
Pita and other iwi leaders will sign the Charter on Saturday and hope others will do the same as one way of keeping their whānau violence free.
Over 1000 people signed the Charter at Waitangi on January 6 and many others have signed since thanks to a joint initiative by Ngāti Hau Health and Social Services, Te Matarau Education Trust, Te Hau Ora O Kaikohe, Te Pu O Te Wheke, Whare Timatatanga Hou Ora and Bream Bay Trust. These dynamic community groups shared resources and erected Charter canvases at their Waitangi Day sites. Whānau were asked to sign the canvasses following a korero about the kaupapa so that they understood exactly what they were signing.
Northland’s E Tū Whānau relationship manager, Shirleyanne Brown (Ngāti Hau, Ngāpuhi), said people at Waitangi were very willing to support the stance and encouraged others to sign too.
“It’s not a hard sell to our people. The messages resonate with them and whanau recognise the mana of those that front the messages.”
The E Tū Whānau Charter of Commitment was launched last year as a way for Māori to take a public stand against violence.
