Men’s groups gain ground

Press, 10 July 1989, Page 16

Men’s groups gain ground

Making it happen

A new resource group aiming to combat men’s violence has been set up in Christchurch. Called the Men’s Resourcing Programme, it is a partnership between the Anglican Social Services and the Christchurch Men for Non-Violence Network. It initially aims to identify training needs, offer supervision, help with programme development, and liaise among the various non-violence groups. It will work alongside groups like Mensline, Anger Management for Men and STOP (a new group working with men who sexually abuse children). The co-ordinator of the new group is Ken McMaster, formerly . a social worker at the Selwyn Centre. Ken has been active in the men’s network in Christchurch for many years. He recently co-authored a book called “A Private Affair: Stopping Men’s Violence to Women,” and is a core group member of Men of Aotearoa, the national ' collective of men’s groups. The various Christchurch men’s groups working to end male violence have been around

for 10 years — and are becoming more professional, he says. In the past most workers have been

volunteers. “Now we’re moving into stage two,” he says. “The Men for Non-Vio-

lence groups have put themselves at the cutting edge of new areas of work. It hasn’t always been comfortable, but the groups have developed expertise and competence in their services. “This new resourcing programme will enhance that.” For more information on this new project contact Ken at 795-950. Maori justice Moana Jackson is one of the foremost Maori lawyers and a spokesperson on legal issues as they affect Maoridom. Earlier this year he completed a report for the Minister of Justice on Maori people in our criminal justice system, advocating a separate process for dealing with Maori accused. He advises defendants refusing trial unless the marae is used. Moana Jackson will be giving a public lunchtime lecture this Wednesday July 12, in lecture room A2 on the university campus. He will talk about his report, its reception and possible future developments. The lecture has been organised by the Canterbury school of law after

the success of the talk by Dame Silvia Cartwright recently. Nearly 500 people attended that meeting. For more information contact Michele Slatter, a senior lecturer at the law school, at 667-001, ext. 8762. The Maori struggle The Treaty of Waitangi, the 1990 celebrations, Maori land rights and the struggle of the Ngati Te Ata to protect their sacred burial grounds from iron sand mining by New Zealand Steel will all be discussed at a public meeting next Monday, July 17. The speaker will be Waatara Black, a Maori activist from the Ngati Te Ata tribe. She is Corso’s Aotearoa Fund’s Maori organiser. The meeting will be in the Stringleman Room of Canterbury Public Library at 7.30 p.m. There will be a collection to cover costs. Everyone, whatever their viewpoint, is invited to come and hear for themselves the words of someone in the forefront of the issues facing Aotearoa/New Zealand today. The meeting has been organised by Corso.