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Friday 4 December 2020
Riders rally against violence
Nelson White Ribbon ambassadors Colin Agnew, left, and Blair McKenzie. Photo: Ronnie Short. RONNIE SHORT
White Ribbon ambassadors from Nelson, with supporters and local riders, recently put their tyres to the tarmac to raise awareness of violence toward women. New Zealand has the highest rates in the world for intimate partner violence and is the third highest for sexual assault. This year’s theme, “Outdated”, is a challenge to replace old, unhealthy messages with positive new alternatives, to overcome outdated attitudes. Around midday last Saturday, Takaka’s Commercial Street reverberated to the sound of around 60 motorbikes cruising in to meet at the Village Green. The bikers had met in Collingwood, picked up white ribbons and coffee vouchers, ridden to the Aorere goldfields and to Bainham before heading townward. As committed advocates of non-violence, the riders came, not just for the complimentary
sausage sizzle and coffee, but to sign the pledge: “I will stand up, speak out and act to prevent men’s violence towards women.” The White Ribbon organisation supports men to commit to taking at least one of these eight actions of “the right thing to do” to show their respect. • Listening and believing women. • Reflecting on and changing their own behaviour. • Disrupting other men’s violence towards women. • Treating women as equals. • Choosing how to be a man and thinking “how I will act”. • Talking to young men about breaking out of the “Man Box” (see website). • Thinking about what they watch and the media they use. • Talking with young men about respectful relationships and pornography.
Men of all ages, along with several women, children and passers-by, milled around enjoying the convivial atmosphere. Many wore leathers akin to gang paraphernalia. Nelson ambassador, Colin Agnew, explained: “We do wear a backpatch, but we are not a gang. We are all one whanau. We are here to raise awareness and to support wherever we can.” “That’s the idea,” added fellow ambassador, Blair McKenzie. “You can still look tough on the outside, without being that.” Blair was the first of three speakers, sharing his own life story of growing up with violence and acting that out until he learned a better way. Another supporter spoke about using positive language and new ways of communicating with children. Local constable Ray Clapp said: “Currently, in Golden Bay, there are four active charges against men (for violence).” Continued on page 2
GB Community Board JO RICHARDS
In the wake of its recent decision not to proceed with a local board for Golden Bay (GBW 20/11), the Local Government Commission (LGC) has started to explore ways of empowering the existing community board. On Monday, LGC chair Brendan Duffy facilitated a meeting with representatives from the Working Group for a Golden Bay Local Board (WGGBLB), Tasman District Council (TDC), Manawhenua ki Mohua (MKM), and the Golden Bay Community Board (GBCB). GBCB chair Abbie Langford said she was impressed with the commitment shown by the parties involved. “The meeting went really well, and was very positive, with everyone agreeing that the key principle was respect.” Secretary of the WGGBLB Tony Lawton, who also attended the meeting said it was a “robust, open conversation”, which resulted in commitments being made by both council and community board. “TDC CEO Janine Dowding has agreed to produce a document specifying a list of delegations from TDC to the Golden Bay Community Board.” Janine offered a similar view of the meeting. “It was a positive and constructive meeting yesterday. I agreed to lead the process to further review delegations to the Community Board. We are scoping out what that would look like but we will be looking for a very collaborative process rather than just producing a list of delegations.” For its part, the GBCB has committed to prepare a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which will define how an empowered community board will operate and interact with TDC. The document will effectively represent the terms-of-reference under which the current and future community boards will operate in Golden Bay. The MOU is potentially a very powerful document. The community board MOU (or “charter”’) recommended by Local Government NZ, TDC’s industry body, includes the board’s responsibility to produce a community plan, including agreed funding of local community projects, a procedure for dispute resolution, and an outline of responsibilities which can be productively delegated to community boards. The changes to the community board’s modus operandi are not just about its... Continued on page 2
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Inside:
Mohua 2042
THE GB WEEKLY, FRIDAY 4 DECEMBER 2020
Tui youth
GalanJAH
Allshorts
GBCH meeting
ISSN (PRINT) 2538-0923 ISSN (ONLINE) 2538-0931
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