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Established in September 2018, the Joint Venture brings together 9 government agencies in the family violence and sexual violence system. This joint way of working helps agencies provide a whole-of-government approach to the complex issues of family violence and sexual violence.
Joint Venture agencies are responsible for working with each other, with Māori, communities and with the wider family violence and sexual violence sectors to:
In December 2021, the Joint Venture launched Te Aorerekura: the National Strategy and Action Plan to Eliminate Family Violence and Sexual Violence. This strategy outlines key shifts the Joint Venture, communities and the wider sector will work towards over 25 years to eliminate family violence and sexual violence.
The Action Plan outlines key actions led by each of the Joint Venture agencies over the next 1-2 years to achieve this Strategy.
The Joint Venture agencies are:
There are 4 associate agencies of the Joint Venture:
In December 2021, Cabinet Ministers agreed to establish the Joint Venture for Family Violence and Sexual Violence as an interdepartmental executive board. The (external link). The Cabinet paper and Minute(external link) are available on the Public Service Commission website.
Government agencies will build on the work of the Joint Venture in this new structure(external link) to enable the collaborative responses, clear roles and responsibilities required to deliver Te Aorerekura.
The Joint Venture operates with a system-wide view and is a single point of accountability that enables government agencies to work in a ‘joined-up’ way, to improve coordination and enable a collective approach. A joint response can make a big difference to eliminating family violence and sexual violence. This aims to improve the system and improve responses to complex family violence and sexual violence issues in a sustainable way.
This approach also aims to support non-government agency (NGO) providers that respond to family violence and sexual violence so that people impacted by violence can access appropriate support without re-traumatisation.
The Tokotoru prevention and wellbeing model (from The Auckland Co-Design Lab and The Southern Initiative) helps us take a whānau-centred, strength-based approach to support the elimination of family violence and sexual violence. Tokotoru means ‘unbreakable three’, and outlines the three dimensions that enable and enhance wellbeing:
The Auckland Co-Design Lab and The Southern Initiative released an Innovation Brief short report on Te Tokotoru model(external link). This report provides information about where Te Tokotoru came from, how it is being used, and how it can be applied by government agencies, communities and groups in their work towards equity and intergenerational wellbeing.
Read the full report to find out what Te Tokotoru is, where it came from, and get guidance on how to use it to improve conditions for wellbeing in people and communities.
Designing for equity and intergenerational wellbeing: Te Tokotoru [PDF, 2.1 MB]
Tokotoru model: Adapted from Auckland Co-Design Lab and The Southern Initiative, 2021.
The Joint Venture is led by the Joint Venture of the Social Wellbeing Board, which brings together leaders of the member agencies to deliver an integrated, whole-of-government approach to family violence and sexual violence.
This Board includes the Public Services Commissioner as an independent Chair, and the Director of the Joint Venture Family Violence and Sexual Violence. This creates a single point of accountability and leadership. The group reports to the Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence and Sexual Violence, Hon Marama Davidson.
Our Independent Advisors represent diverse population groups, and have supported the development of the National Strategy and Action Plan. Appointed for their expertise, leadership and understanding of the family violence and sexual violence system, their role is to:
Visit the Our People page to read more about the Joint Venture of the Social Wellbeing Board and Indepenent Advisors.
Members of the Interim Te Rōpū with former Under-Secretary, Domestic and Sexual Violence Issues, Jan Logie, fourth from the left, in 2019
Improving the New Zealand’s family violence and sexual violence system to enable wellbeing requires change on multiple levels. Te Tiriti o Waitangi, te ao Māori, and whānau-centred approaches are central to Te Aorerekura. They provide a unique perspective about how safely and wellbeing can be realised for all people, while maintaining a focus on victims.
Te Aorerekura, the National Strategy and Action Plan to Eliminate Family Violence and Sexual Violence will help give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi by:
Article 1 – Kawanatanga – continuing to build relationships and partnering with iwi and Māori organisations in the delivery and governance of Te Aorerekura.
Article 2 – Tino Rangatiratanga – enabling iwi, hapū, whānau and Māori communities to have full authority (mana motuhake) over their own wellbeing.
Article 3 – Oritetanga – working with tangata whenua to strengthen protective factors and achieve equitable outcomes that allow iwi, hapū, whānau, and Māori communities to realise their potential, free of family violence and sexual violence.
Māori are over-represented in experiencing family violence and sexual violence. To honour Te Tiriti, the Joint Venture is focused on unlocking the solutions held within Te Ao Māori, especially around building capability, learning to hear victims’ voices and sharing power.
When the Joint Venture was established, the government agreed to establish an independent Māori body to work in partnership with the Crown. Over the first two years, the Joint Venture worked with a specially formed Māori leadership group – Interim Te Rōpū – to incorporate Māori-focused solutions and aspirations for reducing family violence and sexual violence.
Te Rōpū assisted the Joint Venture to develop the early thinking in support of a national strategy and advised on longer-term arrangements. Read more about Te Hau Tangata and Interim Te Rōpū on the Resources page.
A new Tangata Whenua Advisory Group was announced on 7 December 2021. More information on this Rōpū will be available shortly.
Historically, the family violence and sexual violence sectors have been underfunded, creating significant gaps in services for people and limits to the capacity and capability of responses the system offers.
The government is investing over $800 million over the next four years into addressing family violence and sexual violence. Budgets 2018-2020 mainly increased funding for specialist family violence and sexual violence services. This investment stabilised the family violence and sexual violence sectors with more funding for services and a joint approach to investment and planning.
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