Police are working alongside Maori social service providers to help
reduce family violence and other crime in the Kaitaia area.
The Far North Maori Social Service Providers Collaborative (MSSPC) was formed about four years ago.
MSSPC, also known as the 'collab', includes: Te Whareruruhau O Meri; Waitomo Papakäinga Inc; Ngatï Kahu Social and Health Services; Te Oranga Whanau Hapu Services (Te Runanga O Te Rarawa); Te Aopöuri Services.
One of the issues in the Far North was the need for Maori to work with the Police, as one of many government agencies, to help reduce Maori offending.
Far North Police Iwi Liaison Officer and Kaitaia Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) member Te Uri Reihana-Ngatote says the Maori service providers now have a huge trust in Police.
"We are no longer just seen as an enforcement agency, but more of an enabler in terms of helping to address offending and victimisation in our Maori communities."
Mr Reihana-Ngatote says when a family or person comes to police attention for crime such as family violence the NPT and 'collab' social worker visits them. They have an in-depth discussion with the family and look at the issues leading to the incident. Formal consent and referral is then made by Police to the 'collab' for intervention.
Mr Reihana-Ngatote says since the 'collab' has been running there has been a reduction in recidivist family violence, an increase in reported family violence as many people are more willing to report this, and an increase in community reassurance around Police response to crime.
"We had a family that was coming to Police attention two to three times a week and since they were referred to the 'collab' we haven't seen them for about three months."
He says the work of Police and the 'collab' fits in well with the initiative 'The Turning of the Tide - a Whanau Ora Crime and Crash Prevention Strategy.'
This joint Iwi and New Zealand Police strategy was launched last year and aims to reduce victimisation, offending, road fatalities and injuries among Maori.
Te Runanga O Te Rarawa Principal Advisor Support Services Ellen Graham says the 'collab' work with Police is a wrap-around service at its best.
"We know each other's whänau really well and what the issues are for our whänau. It is about the agencies trusting each other fully to help our whänau and ultimately it's about the future and the future of our kids."
Waitomo Papakäinga Inc Chief Executive Katie Murray agrees and says that any good relationship comes from being able to speak honestly, communicating, appreciating one another's point of view and trusting one another.
"This is possible in our community because of our close knit connections through whakapapa and a good understanding of each other's perspectives"
Ms Murray says the 'collab' focus has been in the area of family violence through supporting whänau the instant they come to notice rather than allowing the negative pattern of behaviour to develop.
"In the future, though, we would certainly like to see both the 'collab' focus, and the relationship we have with our local police, expand to other areas such as youth offending."
For media inquiries contact Northland Police Communications Manager Sarah Kennett on 09 430 4525 or 021 192 1099.