Te Kupenga Whakaoti Mahi Patunga

In response to community needs, various community and voluntary organisations started developing Anger Management programmes – men for non-violence activities begin in Aotearoa / New Zealand.

A conference is held for men working in the family violence field at Maitai Valley, Nelson. It was funded by the Department of Social Welfare’s Family Violence Prevention Coordinating Committee and represents the first formal acknowledgment of the importance of work being undertaken by men for non-violence groups. The conference gave birth to the idea of a National Network which could resource, support, evaluate and advocate on behalf of organisations targeting male violence - Men of Aotearoa was established.

Men of Aotearoa decide to split into two independent national networks: Te Rūnanga Tāne for Māori and The Men for Non Violence Network (MNVN) for non-Māori. These two independent networks agree to meet together bi-annually and the name Men of Aotearoa is discontinued.

The Men for Non Violence Network secures funding for their first fulltime National Coordinator and is registered as an Incorporated Society.

At the AGM/National conference, the Women’s Refuge movement presented the challenge to the MNVN members to be accountable to women, recognising women as the primary victims of male violence and called for co-gender facilitation of violence prevention programmes.

The Men for Non Violence Network changes its name to Men for Non Violence (New Zealand) Incorporated.

The decision is made to move the focus of operations to Wellington to increase the network’s capacity to engage with other national voluntary sector organisations and to lobby government. Two steering committees are elected to explore the question of what would need to change for both Māori and Women to take their place within the Network.

Internationally acclaimed research and lobbying in Aotearoa informs the development of the new Domestic Violence Act. A new Act requires the Family Court to refer men who are subject to a domestic violence protection order to violence prevention programmes. This leads to a dramatic increase in the number of referrals to programmes run by Men for Non Violence member agencies. Members recognise the need for major constitutional changes. In response to an increase in the number of Māori and women joining the Network, a decision is made to work towards becoming a co-gendered, bicultural organisation. The National Structure is changed to reflect the organisation’s new strategic direction. It is agreed that the organisation’s National Executive Committee will comprise two women, two men; two Māori and two Tauiwi. A Māori Executive Committee is formed to address the marginalisation of Māori within the organisation. The Committee determines that its primary objective will be to ensure the organisation is a safe place for Māori as workers and clients. Te Rūnanga Tāne is recognised as a constitutional partner to Men for Non-Violence.

Signalling its commitment to becoming a bi cultural, co-gendered organisation, ‘Men for Non Violence’ changes its name to ‘Te Kupenga Whakaoti Mahi Patunga /- The National Network for Stopping Violence Services’. The name ‘Kupenga Whakaoti Mahi Patunga’ is gifted from the korero of Kaumātua, Piki Kenrick. The Network releases its first Constitution under its new name. The Constitution recognises Māori men and women as Tangata Whenua and commits to a focus on women’s and children’s safety.

Te Kupenga hosts first hui for women workers from member agencies. The highlight of a Māori caucus hui is the symbolic formation of Te Kupenga – The Net.

Member agencies contribute more than $30,000 to the development of a national Māori structure and the employment of national office staff. Te Kupenga develops its first comprehensive quality assurance process, focusing on the safety and accountability of programmes.

Māori Executive of Te Kupenga develops its Terms of Reference and first Māori strategic plan which paves the way for Māori to have a voice and exercise leadership within the organisation and develops a process for Māori to exercise Tino Rangatiratanga.
The first logo of Te Kupenga is developed by Anihana Daly.

Te Kupenga's Constitution and structure are altered to establish a treaty-based organisation. It appoints first Māori Kaiwhakahaere to oversee the development of Māori programmes for the National Office. The constitution and structure of ‘Te Kupenga Whakaoti Mahi Patunga’ is altered to establish a Treaty based organisation.

Te Kupenga faces closure due to funding crisis but saves itself from closure after securing funding. The Network implements a new structure consisting of two Executive Committees, one Māori, one Tauiwi, which are responsible for the development and oversight of services. These are linked by a Partnership Rōpū, which oversees areas of common interest and ensures effective communication between the two committees.

Te Kupenga is a key agency in development and implementation of Te Rito Family Violence Strategy.

Te Kupenga launches new logo.

Te Kupenga initiates development of Family Violence Clearing House, the national centre for research and information on family and whānau violence in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Member's national women’s hui held in Nelson.
Te Kupenga employs its first Communications Advisor, signalling its ongoing commitment to raising the organisation’s media profile.
The United Nations Fund for Women introduces White Ribbon Day to New Zealand. 

Te Kupenga's Kaumātua Horopapera Tamaku (Sol) Whaanga passes away. The annual conference and AGM hosted by the Domestic Violence Centre (now Shine*) is Aotearoa's biggest violence prevention conference in a decade. Puawai (Sue) Rudman presents korowai to Te Kupenga.
Members of Te Kupenga deliver two workshops at the World Conference on the Prevention of Family Violence in Banff, Canada focussing on the Network’s ‘Youth Non Violence Project’ and its bicultural working model.

Te Kupenga launches new website. First parallel men’s and women’s hui held in Hamilton with international presenters. A Māori Development Project is launched. The project aims to evaluate current issues affecting Māori within Te Kupenga, develop a framework for sustainability of Māori membership, assess the strengths, weaknesses, barriers, threats and opportunities that affect Māori membership and increase Māori membership over a 5-year period.

Te Kupenga appoints Kaihautū, National Director of Māori Development. Following lobbying by Te Kupenga since 2004, Section 59 of the Crimes Act (force as a justification for child discipline) is repealed.

Te Kupenga produces Māori Resource Toolkit.
In response to feedback from youth workers, which suggested the project needed a more positive name – the Youth Non-Violence Project is re-branded RAP: Respect All People – Whakamana Tangata.
He Tapu Te Tangata hui.

Te Kupenga launches Clothesline project to raise awareness of the impact of domestic violence on people living with disability.

Te Kupenga makes new and existing national facilitator training resources available to membership. Te Hata Hui Mauri Hauora hui is held.

Te Kupenga launches Kia Rangatira te Mahi: Māori Best Practice Manual.
Hosts national Toitoi Manawa: Inspiring Change best practice conference.
RAP holds regional workshops for youth workers.

He Hau Ora Tinana, He Hau Ora Hinengaro Women’s hui held in Raglan
Respect All People – Whakamana Tangata website launched
Membership survey completed to inform direction of Te Kupenga
Kia Rangatira Te Mahi hui is held.

Respect All People Whakamana Tangata programme evaluation completed.
Significant structural change to appoint a single Tumu Whakahaere.
AGM membership call to review structure and strategic objectives of Te Kupenga

Member survey to inform continued alliance to and relevance of the 3 Pou of Te Kupenga (Te Tiriti o Waitangi, The Paramountcy of Women and Children, and Tū Tangata Tane) and to inform the strategic and structural development of Te Kupenga in the changing environment.
Special member Agency Hui held in Tauhara to inform design of new structure; to become a member driven, member responsive virtual organisation. The transition of Te Kupenga was informed by the then agreed strategies: Communication and Relationships, Influencing Public Policy and providing a National Voice on Men’s violence towards Women, IT Development, Best practice and Accountability, Research and Evaluation, & Resourcing and Sustainability.
Closed Wellington based National Office and moved to a Virtual Office in ‘the cloud’.
Designed new operational team and appointed new Kaiārahi, Kaitakawaenga, Kaiawhina and Kaituitui.
Launched He Tapu Te Tinana manual.
Reviewed and amended our Constitution.

Developed and provided Aukati Whakarekereke training in the use of previous resource manuals.
Hui-a-Tangata Best practice training at Te Puea Marae
Membership survey to review progress from Tauhara hui and inform next phase of transformation.

New Policy structure ratified – the Mātāpono of Te Kupenga.
Member Intranet launched
Te Kupenga provides significant community sourced information to Workstream leaders and working parties seeking to inform and influence the development of the Government proposed Ministerial Group on Family Violence and Sexual Violence Work Programme.

Government announces major review of Domestic Violence Act. Te Kupenga makes extensive submissions and appears before the Select Committee to speak to those submissions. Te Kupenga representatives participate in array of Ministerial Group on Family and Sexual Violence advisory and consultation groups and are involved with the Expert Design Group in developing the National Workforce Capability Framework and the development of the National Risk Assessment and Management Framework. The former NGO Alliance on Family Violence is disbanded and Te Kupenga works with the National Collective of Independent Womens Refuges and TOAH-NNEST to develop a new coalition of specialist family and sexual violence service providers. Te Kupenga engages in major review and redrafting of its Rules (formerly its Constitution) and unanimously passes changes which ensure that the voices of women and Māori comprise at least 50% of all decisions of the organisation. Annual hui and conference held at Te Puea Memorial Marae in Auckland.