Hikitia! is a community-led initiative funded by ACC as part of Te Aorerekura, the National Strategy to Eliminate Family Violence and Sexual Violence.

This work is focused on creating long-term change by transforming the conditions that lead to and maintain sexual violence, family violence, and child sexual abuse in our communities. Five organisations gained contracts in the first round, and RISE is happy to be one of these first five groups.

In Te Tauihu, Hikitia! For Our Future works across a geographical area that includes Whakatū (Nelson), Waimea (Richmond), Mahua (Golden Bay), and Te Waiharakeke (Marlborough).

What the Hikitia! kaimahi (staff) are focused on/doing?

More than 2000 men have engaged with RISE’s non-violence and dad’s programmes over the years and RISE consistently receives feedback from men that they want to do more.

RISE Hikitia! works with men as powerful allies and leaders in their communities who can challenge harmful behaviour.

Drawing from the insights of these men, alongside the voices of tamariki (children) and rangatahi (youth), whānau and families, those working in the Family Violence and Sexual Violence fields, and research and literature, Hikitia! contributes to three overarching long-term national and regional outcomes:

Mokopuna Ora: protecting the whakapapa of our tamariki, rangatahi and whānau;
Communities are safe, inclusive spaces where children, young people and whānau flourish; and
Primary prevention is prioritised across the family and sexual violence system.

Hikitia! aims to address the underlying causes, or drivers, of sexual and family violence (e.g. social norms, practices and structures that influence attitudes and behaviours) through a systems change approach to primary prevention.

This could look like local storytelling activities to shift mindsets and social norms towards safety, equity and respect. Or partnering with local councils to address high-risk areas.

Crucially, Hikitia! is not focused on service delivery – it focuses on building the infrastructure (workforce, strategy, etc) to support a high-functioning prevention system by working with partners and the community to:

Increase coordination and alignment of sexual violence and family violence prevention (including child sexual abuse prevention),

Identify, implement and leverage initiatives that strengthen protective factors and transform the conditions (including policies, practices, resource flows, relationships, power dynamics etc) that hold sexual violence and family violence in place, and

Enable and activate local leadership to take action to prevent violence.

Together, we will build a future where mana is upheld, whakapapa is honoured, and healthy relationships are achieved.

Meet RISE’s Hikitia! team working to prevent family violence and sexual violence — RISE

Contact the host of Community Talk with Matt Brown