A crucial step towards addressing family harm within Pacific kāiga (families) was announced this week in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between The Cause Collective (TCC) and the NZ Police.
Move to eliminate family and sexual violence.
The Cause Collective, through its Nga Vaka o Kāiga Tapu (Nga Vaka) and Champions of Change initiatives, has joined forces with the New Zealand Police in Tāmaki Makaurau to prevent family violence among Pacific families and communities.
Together, The Cause Collective, Nga Vaka Champions of Change, and the NZ Police are collaborating to support Pacific ethnic-specific community action. Our shared goal is to empower these communities, preserve cultural values, enhance safety, and ensure accountability. As part of this partnership, we will implement eight ethnic-specific community initiatives in the Auckland and Waikato regions.
This collaboration also emphasises increasing awareness, strengthening community engagement strategies, and sharing insights to improve the well-being of Pacific ethnic communities and address violence.
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.
Both The Cause Collective and the NZ Police share values and principles aimed at eliminating family and sexual violence. We are dedicated to a comprehensive approach to address family violence, emphasising the kāiga well-being model and PRIMED values, which include Professionalism, Respect, Integrity, Commitment to Māori and Te Tiriti, Empathy, and Valuing Diversity.
Under this partnership, 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.
This Memorandum of Understanding is a significant step toward a safer, more inclusive Tāmaki Makaurau. Together, we are dedicated to achieving positive change, preserving cultural values, and fostering community engagement. Our shared commitment to these goals will drive the positive transformation we aim to achieve.
"The NZ Police is one of largest state agencies and it’s like a mirroring of what can happen across the public sector. While the executive of the MOU is not legally binding it’s imperative you see the first stage of an active partnership."