Whangārei's Town Basin turns purple for anti-violence event

Amelia, 4, and Ella Pilkington, 6, Jacob Stam, 9, JohnBoy and Haven Nonoa and Mara and Mila Armstrong create hearts with messages on them.

A sea of purple took over Whangārei's Town Basin during Saturday's anti-violence event.

The Share Your Heart day encouraged people to create purple paper hearts to show their support for a campaign to create safer communities and raise awareness of the magnitude of violence.

The event was created by the family of Eli Holtz, a Whangārei teen who died after an alleged assault in Auckland earlier this year. It is part of the Facebook campaign #Justiceforeli.

Northern Advocate photographer Tania Whyte got among the purple hearts, shirts, balloons and cupcakes.

Some of the supporters who gathered to support the Share Your Heart event.

Eli Holtz's sister Chanelle Armstrong speaks about anti-violence.

JohnBoy Nonoa entertains the crowd.

Danae Parker supports her aunty, Eli's mum Kirsten Holtz.

Leah and Toby Noakes proudly share their hearts.