It all started when…
40 years ago, five men decided that they wanted to halt the tide of violence that they saw sweeping their community, here in Tauranga Moana. They decided to dedicate, on a weekly basis, a proportion of their own income to support counselling and support for men, who were using violence against their intimate partners and/or families. That is how we started…
We now have a team of 15 staff, including registered counsellors, registered social workers and programme case workers, bringing their expertise and knowledge to the field of specialised family violence. While we work predominantly with men, and a smaller group of women who are or have been using violence, we also support victim survivors - men, women, rangatahi (youth) and tamariki (children) who have experienced violence.
Our Men’s Behaviour Change Programme statistics places very highly in Aotearoa for programme completion, by our whaiora (clients). And we continue to offer support with group programmes for men (and the small numbers of women) who have been mandated by the Court to attend.
However, we also have places to welcome men who are self-referred - those men who identify there is a problem with their use of violence and want to find the skills to change the way that they are with their partners and families in their homes.
We want to be part of the solution in making Tauranga Moana safer for families, and to halt the use of violence wherever it is occurring throughout our region.
If you would like to support us, please feel free to reach out to me: ceo@tlwv.org.nz. There are many ways that you as an individual, can contribute to our work.
Mauri ora!