MAI Review, 2008, Issue 2, 10 pages

The Amokura Family Violence Prevention Strategy (Amokura) is an integrated community-based, initiative to address family violence in Northland (Tai Tokerau) New Zealand. The initiative is led by the Tai Tokerau Iwi Chief Executives Consortium (Consortium) which is made up of the Chief Executives of seven iwi (tribal) authorities. The initiative consists of four project areas that provide a whole of population approach to addressing family violence prevention and early intervention: research, education and promotion, professional development and training, and advocacy. At the end of year 1 (2005) a formative evaluation was conducted and this led into the development of a research plan for years 2 & 3, and a summative evaluation plan for year 3. The evaluation and research work are both driven by theory and community aspirations, and have been developed collaboratively (involving the Consortium and their management team, the community, and the evaluator). This paper examines what has been learned from the intersections of theory and practice, as communities strive for the goal of zero tolerance of violence. A special focus will be on the evaluation of complex community initiatives. (Authors' abstract). Record #5625