While Andy Gore (Letters, March 30) did not achieve letter of the week status as Frances Burton-Brown (Letters, April 13) thought he should, I strongly agree with both, that the violence against women and the dysfunctional upbringings that affect far too many of our children should horrify us all and be a call for action. We have a Predator Free 2050 movement. Why do we not have a Violence Free 2050 movement?
I decided to subscribe to the Listener rather than make an occasional supermarket purchase when you published last year’s series on people (mostly tangata whenua) addressing poverty issues in their local communities (the “Hardship &Hope” series by Rebecca Macfie).
Iwas privileged to hear RNZ National’s Kathryn Ryan interviewing Bob Francis, who outlined his success as Masterton mayor in the 1980s in dealing with burgeoning social issues after the closure of the local freezing works. He said his main leadership skill was the ability to bring together a multidisciplinary team that was able to effectively identify and support vulnerable families.
Asimilar theme runs through Dale Williams’ 2013 Ted Talk presenting a community-based approach when he was mayor of Ōtorohanga in 2004. His
