Newsletter October 2019

News from Waikato Women’s Refuge

TE WHAKARURUHAU – OctoBER 2019

Roni Albert - Our Board

Kia ora koutou,
Saving Rose is our annual gala dinner fundraiser and next year we are holding this awesome event to coincide with International Women’s Day on Friday 6 March, at the Claudelands Event Centre. This year we are proud to announce our MC Alison Mau and guest speaker Glen Osborne. Join us for an evening of Māori-fusion inspired art, fashion, food and entertainment. It’s a great opportunity to celebrate and support the work refuge does.
We are grateful to the organisers of the Dare to Dream movie fundraiser. The event was an outstanding success raising $10,000 for refuge. We are grateful to the support of so many people – those who bought tickets and also the generous sponsorship of the event from many local businesses. Thanks to the amazing Waikato DHB sexual health clinic doctor and her friends for raising funds to help us out during the very busy Christmas period.

Ngā mihi,
Roni Albert Waikato Women’s Refuge Te Whakaruruhau CEO

SAVING ROSE

We’ve made it easier for you to buy your tickets for Saving Rose. Just click on the link below and chose the number of individual tickets or tables you would like to purchase. You can pay using credit card or online banking.

Saving Rose MC Alison Mau is journalist and broadcaster. She has worked on current affairs shows Seven Sharp, Fair Go, Breakfast and RadioLIVE. A Sunday Star Times columnist and Stuff online contributor, she currently leads a team of journalists at Stuff investigating sexual harassment in New Zealand.

Saving Rose guest speaker Glen Osborne is a former All Black and television presenter. He regularly makes appearances on Maori Television, filmed television show Bring Your Boots, Oz – a celebration of rugby union and what it means to Maori and was a contestant on Dancing with the Stars. He graduated as a constable for the New Zealand Police and works for the Whanganui police force

MEET THE TEAM

Susan Robb is a Kaimahi Advocate at Residential and casual weekend on call crisis. Like all the wāhine at our safe houses she is fondly known as house mum.

What drives you to do what you do at WWR? 
I think my TEAM is the initial drive, the support, the trust, the manakitanga and enthusiasim.
Knowing I am making a difference at a time of vulnerability, and being witness at a time of empowerment.
What accomplishment are you most proud of? Completing my Law Degree…. I am the first person in my whanau to go to university and receive a degree.
Where’s your favourite place in the world? “Home”…. Tauranga. My whanau, my peaceful place.
A quote or inspiration that sums you up? There is no such word as CAN’T….. What we say is HAVEN’T YET.
What is your spirit animal and why? Eagle, it bestows freedom and courage to look ahead. The eagle is symbolic of the importance of honesty and truthful principles.”
Who would you most like to swap places with for a day, and why? Not sure cause I like what I do….Maybe a Judge, so I can ensure the sentence fits the crime.
What do you do when you’re not working? Gardening, mowing lawns, visiting whānau and friends. Watching my son and the mokos at their sport events and enjoying blobbing with them watching a movie, and baking with them.
Four famous people you would invite to dinner – why and what would you cook? Thor, The Rock and Vin Diesel…cause they are awesome actors and just beautiful to look at… lol.
I won’t cook anything ..they can afford to take me out…

We want to hear from you

We are working with a research group trying to improve the options for support available for all New Zealanders affected by family violence.
As part of this, we want to understand people’s experiences of trying to find family violence support for themselves or others, and what is useful or difficult when they are looking for support.
The survey should only take 5-10 minutes to complete and is open to anyone who has been impacted by family violence – including people harmed, people causing harm, thinking about causing harm, concerned friends and family, or other support people. By participating, you can go into the draw to win one of three $50 Prezzy cards. The research team will produce a report, but will not use any identifying information and you do not need to give your name or other personal details.
Your experiences will help us to focus on what is important for other people who are seeking help.

Stand By Me

Stand by Me book cover.
NEW ZEALAND’S FIRST MĀORI WOMEN’S REFUGE STARTED IN A ONE-BEDROOM FLAT IN HAMILTON IN 1987, WITH RONI ALBERT AND ARIANA SIMPSON AT THE HELM.
THEIR JOURNEY FROM MODEST BEGINNINGS TO BECOMING A TRULY INFLUENTIAL ORGANISATION IS DESCRIBED IN STAND BY ME, THE STORY OF TE WHAKARURUHAU WAIKATO WOMEN’S REFUGE.
WRITTEN BY VENETIA SHERSON AND DENISE IRVINE; IMAGES BY PETER DRURY.
PUBLISHED BY TE WHAKARURUHAU.
$29.95
PURCHASE THIS STUNNING BOOK HERE OR CONTACT TE WHAKARURUHAU – REFUGE@WWRT.CO.NZ