Hikitia! National Hui – March 2025

Hikitia! works to strengthen the factors that promote healthy relationships and mana-enhancing tapu-enriched relationships. It addresses the underlying causes and drivers of violence, such as social norms, practices, and structures that shape our attitudes and behaviours.

The Niho Taniwha learning framework

The national hui focused on deepening the relationships across the Hikitia! movement and creating a shared kawa (way of working together) and vision for the future of the Hikitia! initiative. By building a collective understanding of the Niho Taniwha learning approach, Hikitia! is better able to serve the Māori community in a culturally sensitive way.

The Niho Taniwha learning framework was developed by The Southern Initiative and enables ACC to collaborate with Hikitia! lead providers to focus on community input, highlight the positive results, and find ways to make changes at the system level.

The Hikitia! initiative will help gather practical evidence for this community-led approach to preventing violence.

Sophia Beaton, Hikitia! Te Tai Tokerau Manager reflected, “Coming together was a really great opportunity for deepening our relationships across the Hikitia! movement. It was particularly important for us to build our shared whariki of values and practices and explore how they all weave together. Our strength is in the collective and how we learn and build together. I am so excited for what is coming next.”

Greater opportunities for prevention

ACC and the Hikitia! lead providers will capture and act on the insights gained through a process of practice-based learning, as Hikitia! is implemented. From the monthly and national hui to regular community reporting, every connection point is an opportunity to prevent sexual violence, family violence, and child sexual abuse.

Together we will build a future where mana is enhanced, whakapapa is honoured, and healthy relationships are achieved.