Enderley event set to sweeten tough guys

What do a group of motorcycle riding tough guys, a karaoke competition, and a whole load of sweets have in common? They will be joining the residents of Enderley next Wednesday (24 November) to stand against violence towards women as part of the community’s first White Ribbon Day event.

Acting social development advisor Hannah Banks says, “The statistics tell us time and time again that violence towards women isn’t prejudiced. It can happen to anyone at anytime and it is not OK.”

“Increasingly in Enderley, the community is standing up, supporting their neighbours and saying they won’t condone or remain silent about violence towards women,” she says.

As part of the event, Hannah says the community are right behind the White Ribbon Ride and are excited to be welcoming the Super Maori Fullas and Patriots Motorcycle Club on to the Park when they ride into Hamilton on Wednesday.

Every year the group travel from the bottom of the South Island to the top of the North Island, stopping in communities along the way and challenging other men to make a stand against violence towards women.

For most violent crimes (violence in streets, pubs and sports-fields) the perpetrators are more likely to be men – family violence is no different (a US study confirmed that 93% of all kinds of violence experienced by adult women and 86% of all violence experienced by adult men was perpetrated by men). In New Zealand, in 2005/6, 86% of those arrested for family violence offences in New Zealand were men and 14 % were women. For sexual violence, 98 % of those arrested were men (NZ Police statistics).

Of those who experience elder abuse, 70% are women (Age Concern, 2006).

White Ribbon Day at Enderley Park is open to everyone and will start at 4.30pm with a range of family fun planned, including a chance to meet the Super Maori Fullas and check out their Harleys, a karaoke competition, giveaways, a free sausage sizzle, free henna tattoos, a performance by the Cook Island Drummers, lollie scramble and bouncy castle for the kids.

White Ribbon Day at Enderley Park is organised by the Enderley Community Action Group (ECAG) as part of the Social Wellbeing Strategy’s Poets Corner Community Renewal project.