Closing Message

Achieving the vision of families/whanau living free from violence requires ongoing commitment and action from each and every individual and all sectors of society.

The New Zealand Family Violence Prevention Strategy provides a starting point and I am confident that gains made in each of the areas of action will maximise progress toward this vision.

As Chief Executive of the Ministry of Social Development I am committed to ensuring that the Ministry plays a major role in progressing and monitoring the implementation of the strategy. A lot of work needs to be undertaken immediately to progress it.

Firstly, we need to ensure that the areas of action set out in this strategy are fully scoped, and as part of this process undertake further work on establishing precise targets and outcome and performance measures.

Targets and measures are important to monitor the strategy’s success.

Secondly, we need to establish a mechanism to progress and monitor the strategy’s implementation and to ensure that a cross-sector focus on, and commitment to, family violence prevention is maintained over time.

I envisage that the project scoping exercise may lead to modifications in the current timeframes, targets and outcome and performance measures documented in this strategy. To maintain transparency, the strategy has been placed on the Ministry of Social Development’s website, as a living document to be updated as required.

The strategy is a product of the positive, collaborative working relationship between government and non-government organisations. I would like to pay special tribute to all those who contributed to developing the strategy and am keen to ensure that these relationships continue throughout the implementation process. I am also keen to seek innovative ways of gathering community input.

Each and every one of us has a role to play in preventing family violence.

Working together is key to ensuring the successful implementation of the strategy and to maximising progress toward the vision of families/whanau living free from violence.

 

Peter Hughes
Chief Executive, Ministry of Social Development