Music and dance used to share serious message

HAPPY FOOD: Samantha Bills (left) and Robyn McDougal cooking up a storm.140215WCLGBILLIONRISING2

A small but enthusiastic crowd took part in the One Billion Rising event on Saturday.

It is the third year the event, which aims to raise awareness of violence against women and girls, has been held in Wanganui.

The event uses music and dance to get its message across, and this year's One Billion Rising included a drum circle, music, dancing, and poetry.

Organiser Maria Lawless said One Billion Rising, a fundraiser for the Wanganui Women's Network, had a serious message.

"It's a global event that shines a light on the oppression of women and girls that is still happening."

The event finished with a public workshop, called Rethinking The System, run by sisters Niki and Laila Harre, which invited everyone to discuss the possibilities of living well in the current political system.

Niki and Laila Harre also held a Rethinking The System workshop at the Whanganui Regional Museum on Saturday evening.

The pair - an academic and a former politician - are currently hitch-hiking around New Zealand on their workshop tour.