OUR STORY
Te Hāhi Aotearoa was first established in Gisborne in 2016, where a number of churches partnered with the local Police to support families following a domestic incident. A similar idea had been sown in Rotorua, and in 2017 Te Hāhi was established there, with the Hawkes Bay following in 2019. Te Hāhi receives growing interest from across the country.
Te Hāhi Aotearoa is led by a national governance board, which oversees policy and strategy and an Operations team that assists with the implementation of Te Hāhi into new locations.
Te Hāhi Aotearoa provides pastoral care to families and does not replace any specialist services that exist within a community. Our heart is to build relationship, complement and align with services provided through the Police and other agencies.
OUR VISION
Bringing hope to communities across Aotearoa, New Zealand, by working together as local churches in partnership with Police to support families impacted by family harm.
Te Hāhi aims to demonstrate to those impacted by family harm that they are not alone and there is always hope.
OUR VALUES
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For almost 40 years I’ve seen first-hand the destructive impact family harm has on individuals, families and the wider community. If we could ‘fix’ family harm we would transform our communities. Te Hāhi was founded with the kaupapa of providing hope, aroha and compassion.
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POSITION STATEMENT ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
(FAMILY HARM)
Te Hāhi is opposed to any form of domestic violence, which is a serious problem that occurs within the community and in the church.
Definition
Te Hāhi recognises that violence within the family most often involves the abuse of power, the more powerful member abusing the less powerful. Violence may also involve actions aimed at regaining and reasserting power by one who has been oppressed.
Violence within the family may take various forms, such as physical, sexual, verbal, psychological and emotional abuse. As well, forms of control like economic and social, which at first may appear harmless, fall into the category of domestic violence as they are used to assert the dominance of one partner over another in a relationship.
Victims of domestic violence include children who are not only witnesses but also the objects of violence. Domestic violence occurs in every socio-economic group and while more frequently attributed to men is sometimes committed by women.
Biblical principles
The Bible teaches that all people are equal in value to God and should be treated with respect and dignity. Every instance of domestic violence and every occasion of misuse of power is contrary to this teaching and is unacceptable (Ephesians 5:21, RSV; Ephesians 4:31,32, GNB).
As part of the Christian Church, we are motivated by the mission of Jesus to lead victims to experiences of healing (Luke 4:18, RSV).
Practical responses
Perpetrators of violence within the family should acknowledge their wrongdoing, accepting responsibility and the legal consequences for it. They should also seek help in dealing with their violent behaviour and work towards a commitment to non-violent, respectful behaviours, equality in relationships with other adults and truly nurturing relationships with children and other dependants.
A victim should not be further exposed to abuse through misuse of biblical principles, such as, 'wives submit to husbands' or, 'forgive one another'.
Te Hāhi, along with individual volunteers, should be ready to alert authorities where appropriate, and to help those who are victims, either directly or through support and referral to professional help, regardless of who the perpetrator is.
Source – Used with Permission by The Salvation Army NZ, Fiji & Tonga Territory, Research & Policy