Stress on families during Christmas often results in a rise in family violence.
Stress on families during Christmas often results in a rise in family violence.
Opinion by Rachel Enosa
Rachel Enosa is Chief Executive of The Cause Collective, a New Zealand organisation dedicated to social change for Pacific Peoples and South Auckland communities
THREE KEY FACTS
The Cause Collective works to prevent family violence in Pasifika communities.
Nga Vaka o Kāiga Tapu uses culturally grounded approaches to strengthen wellbeing and prevent harm.
The initiative has improved health, safety, and income, achieving a $7.70 return for every dollar spent.
As we approach the Christmas break, many of us are looking forward to connecting with friends and family, a Kiwiana summer and the celebration of a new year.
But this can also be a challenging time for many New Zealanders, particularly those who struggle with the highcost of living, experience social deprivation, or are living disconnected from a support system.
The Cause Collective (TCC) works with Pacific families whose foundations are love, respect and care for one another – however, they also feature highly in many of the country’s social indicators that successive governments have strived to improve.
At a time of the year when many families give more than they can afford, levels of family violence are often higher. Evidence tells us the causes are varied; economic hardship, the strain of providing during a season of giving, and increased alcohol consumption often contribute to tensions boiling over into harm.
The Cause Collective chief executive Rachel Enosa says the organisation is listening deeply to the diverse voices of Pacific families.
It is against this backdrop that TCC, in partnership with the Ministry of Social Development, continues its vital work in Pacific communities, ensuring steps are being made to break cycles of intergenerational harm.
One of the ways we do this is through Ngā Vaka o Kāiga Tapu, a culturally grounded approach to family violence prevention and strengthening wellbeing for Pacific families.
Funded by the Ministry of Social Development through Pasifika Proud, it represents a new way government agencies are working with Pacific communities to deliver culturally informed responses to address family violence, supported by good evidence and data.
As part of this work, we identify key leaders across eight ethnic communities, our “Champions of Change” drive conversations about preventing family harm in culturally relevant ways.
For instance, recognising the different gender roles of leadership within Pacific communities has seen our Fijian men holding critical conversations as part of their kava groups, while our Cook Islands women have opted to engage through church and cultural activities.
For our Niuean community, where the preservation of their language is an urgent concern, genealogy workshops have become a vital tool with a focus on strengthening the family at the heart of the discussions.
Reconnecting our people with their identity and values systems supports a healthy and safe home environment.
Our organisation has observed a 15% improvement in mental and physical health, a 24% improvement in safety and a 61% improvement in people’s disposable income and saving for future needs.
This initiative has not only been recognised for its innovative methods but has also achieved a social return on investment of $7.70 for every dollar spent, based on Impact Lab’s Good Measure tool.
Rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach, we are listening deeply to the diverse voices of Pacific families. Framing conversations around love, respect and family wellbeing has opened pathways to healing that were once closed.
This Christmas, as we reflect on the spirit of giving and the joy of spending time with loved ones, let’s celebrate the importance of family as the foundation of our communities and building a socially cohesive society.
Nga Vaka o Kāiga Tapu reminds us that by valuing family and our cultural diversity, we can create meaningful change.
