Enjoy company and take the pledge in Featherston

TOGETHERNESS: Featherston's White Ribbon event organisers Brenden Saaymen (Youth Programme), Siv Fjaerestad (artist), Robyn Ramsden (Connecting Communities) and Mike Ledingham (poet).

Spoken word poems, hula hooping, Ki o Rahi tournaments, a giant art installation and a violence-free pledge are to set the scene for Featherston's upcoming outdoor "shindig".

Various Featherston community groups have teamed up to put on a public event for White Ribbon Day, to take place at Clifford Square next Wednesday afternoon.

The community picnic will feature live entertainment from various Featherston performers, family-friendly activities and an interactive art work by artist Siv Fjaerestad, capturing the importance of respectful relationships.

The event was the brainchild of the Featherston Networking Group -- which includes Featherston's Community Centre, Menz Shed and Youth Programme, Connecting Communities and Family Works.

Group member Robyn Ramsden, community development co-ordinator for Connecting Communities, said the idea arose from a recent discussion about domestic violence in Wairarapa.

There were up to 1200 reported incidences in 2014/15.

"We were like, 'man, those stats are terrible; we have to do something,'" Mrs Ramsden said.

"White Ribbon Day was coming up, and we thought Featherston needed something -- it's such a shame that all the main events are in Masterton."

"We wanted it to be a positive event to raise awareness of a serious issue," Ms Fjaerestad, also Featherston Community Centre manager, said.

"People can come together and take the pledge, and also enjoy each other's company."

The centrepiece of the event will be Ms Fjaerestad's art installation, made from plywood shaped by Menz Shed members.

The centrepiece is be based on the Teen Equality & Respect Dating Wheel.

The wheel itself is a tool used by counselling and relationship services to demonstrate the characteristics of a well-functioning partnership, including honesty, trust and independence.

"It shows what positive relationships look like -- as opposed to the opposite, on the Power and Control Wheel," Ms Fjaerestad said.

She said she intended for the installation to be interactive, and help Featherston's young people evaluate their own relationships.

The artwork will double as a field marker for the ki-o-rahi tournament, organised by the Youth Programme members.

Other entertainment will include demonstrations from Coops Hoop Group, music from Saali Marks, and spoken word poems from Mike Ledingham and Simon Fleck.

Wairarapa White Ribbon ambassador Jeremy Logan will address the crowd, and lead the White Ribbon pledge.

Ms Fjaerestad said the event was organised very quickly but with huge community support -- with Featherston Lions Club, Trust House, RD1, City Care and South Wairarapa District Council helping out.

The White Ribbon event will be held on Wednesday, November 25, from 4pm to 7pm.

A wet weather venue is to be announced.