Editorial: Help us support Women's Refuge

Andrew Austin, Editor of Hawke's Bay Today.

Domestic violence is not an easy subject to discuss, but this does not mean that we should simply let it lurk in the shadows of our communities.

It is a scourge that knows no boundaries and is prevalent in all walks of life. Thankfully, these days there is more of a focus on trying to eradicate it from society with good programmes like It's not Ok.

Also, the general public is more vigilant and keep a look out for anything untoward, more so than in previous generations.

What is sometimes forgotten is that there is support for those, especially women, who are victims of such violence. One such group is the Women's Refuge, which does amazing work to help those in distress.

Hawke's Bay Today has teamed up with the amazing team at Women's Refuge to raise awareness, as well as funds and supplies, for the three Hawke's Bay shelters. Our association is with Hastings Women's Refuge, but the appeal is also for Napier Women's Refuge and Te Whare Whanau Purotu. Every time we highlight worthy causes in the paper, we always get an amazing response from our readers, who I realised a long time ago are very kind people.

We don't expect it to be any different this time. The first part of the series, which will run for the whole of next week, is on page nine of today's paper. Each day we will highlight an aspect of domestic violence. We will examine what it is and why it is such a problem in our communities.

We have also spoken to a victim and we profile the people who work at the refuge. To show that men are not only the perpetrators here, we will also show the good men, those on the Women's Refuge board, who give up their time to help women in need.

But, most importantly we will be telling you exactly how you can help and what you can do.

One way you can help is to support the Hastings Women's Refuge pop-up shop that will be raising money to update the centre's old kitchen.

It opens for business from Monday and can be found at 108 Heretaunga St West for a couple of weeks. There will be a variety of donated items available for purchase.

Please support them and us in our bid to bring attention to this worthy cause.