Te Puke is the latest community to stand up against violence. Today locals unveiled two billboards with the message that violence will not be tolerated under the 'It's Not OK' campaign.
Family Violence coordinator in the Western Bay of Plenty Heather Beddie says that “there's a community family violence problem in every area of NZ we are the third highest rating family violence country in the Western World so Te Puke is no worse than any other area, Te Puke amazing that its step forward and said that we can do something about this as a community.
'It's Not OK' is a campaign that began in NZ in 2007. They provide resources and training for communities and encourage people to help stop violence. Te Puke community campion Colin Gardner has been given the role to speak about his experiences regarding family violence.
“I think we all know some who has had violence happen to them and they know of somebody who has had it happen to them, so Te Puke is not excluded”, says Mr Gardner.
One in three women experience physical or sexual violence from a partner in their lifetime but Te Puke locals want no part of this statistics.
“In Te Puke you can ask us for help and there are many, many people now in Te Puke who have been trained just community people as the go to people for help” says Mrs Beddie.
Te Puke has a billboard on each end as you drive into the township with a clear message.
Family Violence will not be tolerated!
