Anti-violence campaigners gear up for White Ribbon Day

White Ribbon Day falls on November 25. Photo / Peter Watt

A sea of hairy legs in high heels is expected tomorrow during an inner-city walk to raise awareness about violence against women and children.

Anti-violence campaigners are gearing up for White Ribbon Day tomorrow.

The day's events are aimed at raising awareness around violence towards women.

Among events planned was Wellington's "Walk a Mile in her Shoes", where policemen, politicians and others will strut their stuff in women's shoes.

MP Alfred Ngaro is one of those deciding what shoes to wear for the walk.

Mr Ngaro joked that his "island feet wouldn't get into a pair of high heels" but the event was a humorous way to raise awareness about a serious issue.

Fellow White Ribbon Ambassador Judge Peter Boshier, Children's Commissioner Russell Wills, and Wellington mayor Celia Wade-Brown will also join the midday walk from Midland Park to Plimmers Steps and back.

The event is open to anyone. High high heels aren't compulsory -- but there are prizes for "fanciest footwork, smartest threads and best signage."

Mr Ngaro, a National list MP and candidate for Te Atatu, said the walk was intended to foster empathy and get men thinking and talking about the impacts of family violence.

"What does it feel like, looking from the inside out, from a women's and children's point of view? What are the challenges that they face?"

The walk begins at Midland Park at noon, to Plimmers Steps and back. Meanwhile, a silent protest against family violence will echo the recent Tower of London poppy display.

Two Auckland churches were inviting the public to plant white ribbons in church grounds from today until Thursday.

St Luke's Presbyterian Church in Remuera, and Greenlane Presbyterian Church were hosting the "silent protest" against domestic violence.

Church leaders said the project would echo the millions of poppies placed around the Tower of London to mark the 100th anniversary of World War One breaking out, held earlier this year.

The churches hoped white ribbons covering their grounds would send a clear message that domestic violence was unacceptable.

The Reverend Glynn Cardy, Minister at St Luke's, said although White Ribbon Day usually focused on violence against women, the church wanted to stand up to any form of abuse.

Reverend Ben Dykman of Greenlane Presbyterian said his church would also send a clear message against all forms of family violence. "This endemic problem has been ignored for too long. If allowed to continue, it will seed itself in the lives of children who will in turn perpetuate the cycle of violence," he said.

"Planting white ribbons together is a great way to unite people and to have those conversations about a major issue in our communities," said Anne Overton, Presbyterian Support Northern community advocate.

Meanwhile, police were also planning to take part in White Ribbon Day initiatives.

Commissioner Mike Bush said he was honoured to become a White Ribbon Day ambassador last week.

Mr Bush said when he worked as a frontline police officer, he was often shocked at how much violence was inflicted on women and children, and the damage it caused to families.

"As a society, we have to move forward from being aware of the violence, to take more action."

White Ribbon partners included Women's Refuge, The Sophie Elliott Foundation, The Disability Clothesline Project, Shakti, The National Network of Stopping Violence, and the It's not OK campaign.

Dozens of men from sport, politics, academia, the media and social services were White Ribbon Ambassadors, including Stan Walker, John Key, Andrew Little, Ruben Wiki, Awen Guttenbeil and Sir Bob Harvey.