Te Aorerekura is the National Strategy and Action Plan setting out a new collective path for government, tangata whenua, specialist sectors, and communities to eliminate family violence and sexual violence in Aotearoa.

 

Read a summary and download a copy of the strategy

 

What is the Joint Venture?

 

Established in September 2018, the Joint Venture brings together nine government agencies in the family violence and sexual violence system (Accident Compensation Corporation, Department of Corrections, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Social Development, New Zealand Police, Oranga Tamariki, and Te Puni Kōkiri).

 

This joint way of working helps agencies provide a whole-of-government approach to the complex issues of family violence and sexual violence.

 

Joint Venture agencies are responsible for working with each other, with Māori, communities and with the wider family violence and sexual violence sectors to:

 

  • improve the way government works to prevent and respond to family violence and sexual violence
  • co-ordinate strategic policy, investment, evidence and best-practice approaches to agencies’ delivery
  • monitor and help resolve challenges, roadblocks and other points of tension that arise in the sector
  • report to the Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence and Sexual Violence as the Lead Minister for this work.

 

Learn more about the Joint Venture at About Us – Te Puna Aonui.

 

What is Te Aorerekura?

 

Te Aorerekura sets a wellbeing and strength-based vision for eliminating family violence and sexual violence. Its guiding vision, or moemoeā, is that:

 

“All people in Aotearoa New Zealand are thriving, their wellbeing is enhanced and sustained because they are safe and supported to live their lives free from family violence and sexual violence”.   

 

Te Aorerekura is the result of discussions with thousands of people across Aotearora New Zealand, including ongoing input from tangata whenua, leaders from our diverse communities, sector specialists and government agencies.

 

Te Tiriti o Waitangi/The Treaty of Waitangi is woven throughout Te Aorerekura, and has tangata whenua, children, young people, those impacted by violence, and their communities at its core.

 

The strategy builds on all the good work we know is already happening across government and within our communities. But such a major shift in our attitude toward family violence and sexual violence requires a new way of working.

 

Te Aorerekura brings together a unified whole-of-government response and sets out an equal partnership with tangata whenua and communities. It recognises that this is a problem New Zealanders can only solve by working together.

 

The framework also helps keep governments and the public sector accountable for their actions and progress in achieving the vision of Te Aorerekura.

 

What role is the Ministry of Health playing?

 

Family violence and sexual violence are significant public health issues, and it is important that the health and disability system is well-equipped to prevent, screen (detect) and respond to violence.

 

The Ministry of Health is an active member of the Joint Venture and co-led the development of two of the six ‘key shifts’ in Te Aorerekura:

 

 

The Ministry has committed to supporting the implementation of a range of actions in the Action Plan and is leading an action focused on holistic support for safe early years.

 

Download a copy of the action plan