Standing in strength against sexual violence

This weekend invites Marlburians to come together to stand with victims of sexual violence and generate strength and learning lessons to prevent it in future.

Whakatika I tō Mana takes over Marlborough Events Centre on Saturday May 24, with a family-focused day event from 10am to 4pm and an adult-orientated evening event for registered guests to listen to and learn from 6pm to 9pm.

The day event sees enthralling speakers like mental health advocate Jazz Thornton, and Maataa Waka’s own Mike Nowacki for a local view, before Nicola ‘Nix’ Adams shares her experiences at the adult event.

“Marlborough is coming together to create change”, says Maataa Waka’s Whanau Resilience team’s Afi Leota.

“Whakatika I tō Mana is more than just a community event – it is a movement of courage, connection, and collective responsibility rooted in the values of aroha, manaakitanga, and Kotahitanga.

“Sexual violence is not just a private issue; it affects whānau, communities, and generations, and in Marlborough, as in many places across Aotearoa, the silence around this issue has often enabled it to persist.

“By opening space for kōrero, by bringing people together to listen, learn, and take action, we begin to heal. We begin to restore the mana of those impacted. We begin to shift the culture.

Afi says that Whakatika I tō Mana brings this positive and preventative kaupapa into the heart of our community.

“With local voices, cultural performance, workshops, kai, and whānau-friendly activities, the event creates a safe and empowering space to grow our understanding and strengthen our response to sexual harm.

“Prevention starts with awareness. It grows through education, and it thrives when whole communities get involved.

“By showing up, we send a clear message: every person deserves to be safe, respected, and heard”.

With delicious kai, live music, and powerful talks across both sessions, Maataa Waka promises an enlightening all-day event for the community to take lessons from with far-reaching impacts.

Registrations are open until 24^th May 2025, register and learn more at maataawaka.co.nz/events