When Pacific peoples are victims, perpetrators or witness family violence it is important they receive the best advice and support. Part of that is about growing the family violence knowledge and skills of those working in the community in a professional capacity or on a voluntary basis to provide services to Pacific peoples.
The Pacific Family Violence Prevention Training Programme (PFVPTP) is part of the Nga Vaka o Kāiga Tapu framework. Nga Vaka o Kāiga Tapu sets out the key cultural concepts and principles that promote family wellbeing for each of the eight ethnic specific Pacific communities living in Aotearoa NZ: Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Niue, Samoa, Tokelau, Tonga and Tuvalu
Family violence in homes can stem from an individuals inability to cope with stress and conflict in healthy ways. Those who have experienced family violence as a child may go on to repeat the cycle with their own children.
Community factors play a role. Patterns of social life have changed; people spend more time at work and connections between neighbours and families are weaker. Lack of adequate housing can create overcrowding (hence more stress on families) or greater mobility (families fail to form supportive networks).
Cultural expectations about how men and women relate to one another and how children should be disciplined influence peoples attitudes towards violence behaviours.
Traditional cultural beliefs about relationships between men and women can influence attitudes towards violent behaviour. Language difficulties, a reluctance to expose what is seen as a private matter, and in some cases fear of the Police means that family violence in these communities is underreported.
In our own Pacific communities, we need to examine the place/role of family violence in the context of yavusa / kainga/kaiga / magafoa / anau and aiga, and ask what has happened to respect and collective responsibility.
Take action by joining your local communities response to preventing family violence
Rotorua Pacific Islands Development Charitable Trust. They operate in the Rotorua area and are a member of the Aere Tai Pacific Midland Collective. Services they offer include:
Education Services
Whanau Ora Services
Domestic Violence
Pacific people are becoming more aware of the affects of family violence on their children, partners and fanau. There is education available where pacific people can learn strategies to manage challenging situations and relationships. This education is provided by Pacific people who understand the challenges of pacific cultures merging with western cultures.
Click on the links below to view the Domestic Violence Brochure in your language