A new Māori advisory group - Te Rōpū - has been appointed to help transform the whole-of-government response to family violence, sexual violence and violence within whānau.
An interim Te Rōpū has been appointed to give effect to the partnership between Māori and the Crown as the national strategy and action plan on family violence and sexual violence are developed. Working in partnership with the Crown, Ministers and the Joint Venture, it will also assist in establishing long-term arrangements for Te Rōpū.
“The appointment of the interim Te Rōpū marks an important change to the way the Government works with Māori to address some of our nation’s most complex issues. We know that genuine partnership with Māori is needed to address the failings in the family violence and sexual violence system,” says Jan Logie, Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Minister of Justice.
“There is overwhelming evidence that a sustained, integrated response is required to substantially reduce family violence, sexual violence and violence within whānau, and that new ways of working across government and with whānau Māori are needed.”
Members of the Interim Te Rōpū include Prue Kapua (Chair), Roni Albert, Ngaropi Cameron, Ange Chaney, Paora Crawford Moyle, Te Owai Gemmell, Roku Mihinui, Susan Ngawati Osborne, Russell Smith, and Sir Mark Solomon.
The interim Te Rōpū will monitor the Crown’s performance on family violence and sexual violence, reporting directly to Ministers. It will facilitate Māori views on what and how the Crown needs to operate to ensure improved outcomes for Māori.
“This is a significant development in our system transformation and I am pleased to announce such a strong group of advisors. We have appointed an interim Te Rōpū to enable Māori input to our work as soon as possible, given the importance of the work that is underway. We also want to ensure more permanent arrangements reflect the views of Māori,” says Jan Logie.
More information about the membership of Te Rōpū can be found here(external link).