Our Story
In June 2008, Glen Innes Health Project Working Group discussed the issue of family violence in the community. This group wanted to do more work to understand the complexity of this problem and understand what could be done to stop family violence from occurring in the first place. A working group was formed at this meeting to progress development of a local initiative. Te Waipuna Puawai agreed to take a lead on behalf of the community and Puamiria Maaka, the then CEO of Te Waipuna Puawai approached Dr Janet Fanslow from the University of Auckland for advice on developing a local prevention initiative. Dr Janet Fanslow committed to getting involved in developing the initiative and she was a member of the Advisory Group until late 2015.
Dr Fanslow engaged Cristy Trewartha with HEART. Cristy’s Master of Public Health dissertation “It is OK to help: effective community mobilisation to prevent family violence” was used to inform the development of the HEART Movement. The Department of Internal Affairs Community Development Worker Scheme provided funding to support the development of HEART and first three years of implementation. The HEART Movement was launched in February 2012.
Most of the active members of te Taumata o HEART in 2022.
(L to R): Roxanne Adams, Sirikit Diaz, Ren Joe (Ali’i Samuela), Rebecca Ruwhiu-Collins, Carla Perese, Whaea Margaret Ngapera, Matua Tom Ngapera, Tyrone Tangata-Makiri, Nandita Mathur. Front: Tess Liew, Haare Kutia. Absent: Jo Flavell, Philippa Holmes, Theresa Holmes, Tara Moala and Cristy Trewartha.
The photo is of some of the leaders identified in the first Community Readiness assessment in 2011 as the people leading efforts around FV prevention. (L to R): Georgie Thompson, Puamiria Maaka, Barbara Te Kare, Margaret Ngapera, Tess Liew, Moka Ngaro.
Since the launch the HEART Movement has grown, evolved, and established itself as one of the few initiatives in Aotearoa New Zealand using community mobilisation as an approach to prevent family violence. The HEART Movement has a strong presence in Tāmaki and is recognised as an initiative that speaks a strength-based language that empowers and builds community capability and connections to lead social change in their hood.
Since our beginning we have: developed dynamic and active community champions known as Community Change Agents; established local and regional organisational partnerships to deliver on our outcomes; and, now moved out from under the umbrella organisation of Te Waipuna Puawai, into the hands of the community. The journey has had its difficult times and challenges amid success.
Local people recognise that HEART builds hope that change is possible and inspires new ways of being.
We are looking to continue hosting conversations that awaken critical thinking and injects new ideas that are discussed in a collective and safe environment. We have built a pathway for engagement that is easily accessible to the community to build themselves and take local action.
We still have a long way to go and look forward to evolving and growing our work in Tāmaki and beyond. We invite you to become part of this journey and to join the HEART Movement.
Puamiria Maaka
We would like to acknowledge Puamiria Maaka. Puamiria passed away on the 2nd December 2018.
She is remembered for her leadership, vision and generosity of spirit. Her commitment to change made HEART possible. Puamiria gave a lot to those around her and is remembered fondly by many, particularly in the wider Tāmaki community.
No reira, e te tuahine Puamiria, e kore tatou e warewaretia i o mahi ataahua mo HEART mo te hapori whanui o Tāmaki, moe mai koe i roto i te rangimarie, ma te atua koe e manaaki, e tiaki.
“Puamiria had a vision and set it in motion. There are many of us now who share this vision and are working to achieve it.”