Keep Maori Women and Children Safe from family violence.
Te Whare Whanau Purotu Inc. Maori Women's Refuge Hawke's Bay is the sole Maori Women's Refuge catering for Maori Wahine and their Tamariki, in Hawke's Bay.
We operate as far south as Dannevirke and north to Wairoa.
As this is a large geographical area the Refuge is always busy and over-subscribes its funding contracts.
Te Whare Whanau Purotu is affiliated to the National Collective of Women's Refuges and works in alliance with the Napier Women's Refuge the Hastings Women's Refuge and other Refuges in the North Island.
The Refuge Movement is a Community wide response to Family Violence.
Te Whare Whanau Purotu has been Incorporated since 2015, The Maori Women's Refuge has been operating in Hawke's Bay under different guises for at least 25 years.
The work is difficult and ongoing but very rewarding.
It requires a committed and reliable community wide approach in pursuit of support and safety for those affected by Family Violence.
Hawke's Bay Family Violence Statistics from the Police shows that in the 3 months (Aug - Oct 17) they have managed 784 incidents in Hastings alone. That is an average of 65 incidents per week. Napier stats show 644 or an average of 53 per week.
Te Whare Whanau operates on several levels:
- Residential: A safe house whare where women and children can stay for a time until they find their feet. This whare is at an address which is kept confidential. It sleeps 15 people and our office is located at the address.
- Community: A social work advocacy service which assists wahine and encompasses a range of referral, follow-up and practical services.
- Crisis Line: 24/7 Phone line providing advice, information and access to safe house whare services.
