All fired up to stop violence | Wairarapa News | Local News in Wairarapa

Masterton woman Aileen Haeata-Kuku wants the community to take a grassroots approach to the problem of family violence - and she's getting fired up.

Miss Haeata-Kuku, 37, is the spokeswoman for a fledgling organisation Whaea Up Now (WUN), which she hopes will flourish with the support of "ordinary Wairarapa people".

The project, under the tagline "Improving our own attitudes of respect and kindness towards women and children", advocates community responsibility in tackling family violence and a move away from the negative language often associated with the issue.

"The mission is to fire up the spirit within people and make Wairarapa a better place," she said.

The philosophy is one of getting people to commit to change and making a difference. "Normal people have the solution, the community needs to take charge of its own problems," the mother-of-two said. A beneficiary, she has plans to start a business and wants to use her own life experience and mindset to inspire others.

Whaea Up Now aims to present 3-4 submissions annually to Parliament.

So far Miss Haeata-Kuku has three others on board and hopes to take the group to the wider community with an inaugural public meeting - a gold coin donation event to be held on September 1 at 6.30pm, in St John's Hall, Dixon St, Masterton.