The Waitakere Taskforce on Family Violence has launched three initiatives as part of a long term project to reduce family violence among Maori in West Auckland.
Spokesperson Tiaria Fletcher says Maori account for almost a third of the violence reported to police yet make up only 13% of the population.
She says one of the initiatives is providing Maori-led violence support services for those who are referred by police for help.
Ms Fletcher says the taskforce wants to colloborate with mainstream providers, helping to transform them and the work they do with Maori communities.
She says Maori account for only 10% of the workforce in social work and counselling but make up more than 50% of the clientele for these services.
Ms Fletcher says another initiative is a series of billboards featuring two local kaumatua and their mokopuna designed to promote the importance of whakapapa.
