March for Moko begins

'March for Moko' protestors gather in Auckland's Aotea Square and march down Queen Street. Photo / Nick Reed
'March for Moko' protestors gather in Auckland's Aotea Square and march down Queen Street. Photo / Nick Reed

Thousands of people are taking part in marches against child abuse being held in at least six cities today.

Hundreds have gathered at Aotea Square in central Auckland to March for Moko.

The three-year-old boy was killed by his caregivers, and a large crowd is marching down Queen Street to raise awareness of family violence.

Marchers are wearing blue clothing and holding pink and blue balloons.

Signs reading "enough is enough" and "stop child abuse" are being held up.

Labour MP Jacinda Ardern addressed the crowd and said change needed to be made in regards to attitudes towards family violence.

"What we're here for today is to call for that change."

Miss Ardern said there needed to be a different approach from Child, Youth and Family to tackling family violence.

"Child youth and Family has a huge number of social workers who do a very hard job, but we have to look at what we can do differently."

Maori Party MP Marama Fox said stopping family violence started in the home.

"Our whole nation has taken the lives of our children for too long."

Candice Nicholls and Janelle Rewa are marching with hundreds of others down Queen Street, which has been closed for the procession.

Ms Rewa said she felt helpless hearing Moko's tragic story.

"I cried afterwards while putting my 2 year old to bed.

"I just had to do something."

Ms Nicholls said the onus was now on the government to act.

"We want the government to take responsibility, it really is a cringeworthy thing, our family violence record.

"There needs to be more help for families, this should not be happening in our country.

"The government needs to get at the ground level."

The marchers are chanting "enough is enough, stop child abuse".

In Northland, crowds have gathered outside Whangarei's Haven Falls Funeral home to support the March for Moko. The March is due to leave at 1pm today and head to Laurie Hall Park. Dozens of people of all ages are there from toddlers right through to elderly.

Marches are being held in cities including Lower Hutt, Whangarei, Auckland, Hamilton, Christchurch and Nelson.

A group of mothers from around the country, who didn't previously know each other, took up the challenge of broadcaster Duncan Garner's article "Who will march for Moko?", and decided to create a forum for change.

Branding themselves ASK - Angels Saving Kids - they urge people to "ask" if they have concerns for a family or child, and that people who need help will ask for it.

The organisers say the marches are intended to honor Moko and all other children who have suffered abuse in New Zealand.

"It is an opportunity to gather as a united front, to raise awareness and invoke change by taking a national responsibility to protect children.

"The marches planned are not focused on the sentencing of Moko's perpetrators, calls for harsher penalties, nor are they about finger-pointing or blaming agencies.

"Any form of aggression, foul language or violent requests for justice will not be supported or tolerated at the marches. It is about channelling any anger or frustration in a passionate way and focusing on what we as a nation can do for early intervention and support. It is a family event where people can bring their children to a non-aggressive march where there will be guest speakers and a minute silence for the souls who have gone."

Fostering Kids New Zealand spokesman Alistair Wilkinson said caregivers all too often saw the impact of neglect and abuse on vulnerable children.

Today's march was an opportunity for all New Zealanders to stop and reflect on what they might be able to do in their community to support the most vulnerable kids.

The organisation's CEO Linda Surtees said revelations about the brutal treatment of Moko had reignited the debate around child abuse.

"We're asking everyone to stop and think today, 'what am I doing to turn around our appalling record?'"

Fostering Kids NZ supported about 4000 members who care for New Zealand's most vulnerable children, in foster homes, group homes and 'Home for Life" (permanent care) settings. But there was a desperate need for more people to help.

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