By Melissa Moxon
HAMILTON - Maori women who break away from violent relationships have a new education-and-arts training venue in an 80-year-old Hamilton chapel.
Te Whare Wahine (women's house) is a partnership between Whakahou Services and the Hamilton YWCA, which has provided the old Bishopcourt Chapel at its Pembroke St base.
Since February,
about 35 women have redecorated the old chapel, including members of the national Maori women's carving group, Te Roopu o Nga Wahine Kai Whakairo.
Artist and volunteer Paerau Corneal said there was a big question about the tradition of women not being able to carve. "It's the same as saying men don't weave - it's codswallop."
The Hamilton City Council has contributed to the cost of new carpet, and much of the paint for wall designs was scavenged from the dump.
The programme will cater for about 100 women a year, teaching them to understand and deal with violence in their lives, before using traditional Maori art to aid personal development.
Whakahou Services is a private business that has operated family violence and personal development courses at the YWCA since late 1997.
"The vision was to create an environment to encourage Maori women to come to the YWCA," said the Whakahou manager, Chrissie Paul.
Whakahou is contracted to the Department for Courts and the Children, Young Persons and their Families Agency.
The centre will be opened on August 30. The only other Hamilton agency to run a similar programme is the Hamilton Abuse Intervention Project.
