When Labour MP Kelvin Davis returned to parliament last year, he made it his mission to address the country's shameful sexual violence rates.
The passionate ambassador shared his story with Tauranga abuse support staff yesterday at a hui hosted by the Tauranga Moana Abuse Prevention Strategy.
It was a story the Te Tai Tokerau MP began in 2001 when he took up the principal's position at Kaitaia Intermediate in Northland.
During his first three weeks on the job he heard about 13 cases of sexual violence against children in the community - all relating to people they were close to.
He called a community meeting but was disheartened by the response, with some questioning whether he was equipped to deal with what might "fall out of the woodwork" if he pursued the issue.