(The official party at Government House for Gandhi Nivas's 10th anniversary)

Governor General Dame Cindy Kiro has praised the work of Gandhi Nivas in helping to break the inter-generational cycle of family harm in Aotearoa.

Speaking at Government House in Auckland during Gandhi Nivas’s 10th anniversary celebrations on 31 March, Dame Cindy said the initiative’s work means women, children and families are not impacted by violence again.

“It was so heartening to read that Massey University’s research established nearly 60 percent of men who have been through Gandhi Nivas have not reoffended,” Dame Cindy said.

“You have shown that it is possible to rehabilitate offenders and to achieve long-term change in behaviour and help heal their families.”

Dame Cindy also paid tribute to those men “who have followed the Gandhi Nivas pathway to become a better version of themselves”.

“Ernest Hemmingway once said there is nothing noble in being superior to others – true nobility is in being superior to your former self. It takes courage to confront our demons, to recognise that change is possible, and to commit to learning new behaviours.”

She thanked Gandhi Nivas for its work helping men who are seeking support to change and for strengthening families and communities.

Dame Cindy noted she had spent much of her life and career, including as Children’s Commissioner, advocating for the protection and wellbeing of the most vulnerable member in society. “Like you, I welcome every intervention that can break the silence and the cycle of domestic violence and protect our families.”

Fresh approach to family harm supports whānau

Gandhi Nivas founder Ranjna Patel paid tribute to everyone who had supported the initiative’s fresh approach to family harm that removed the perpetrator, instead of the victim, from the home.

The initiative has been supported by “an incredible community of people” including New Zealand Police, Total Healthcare PHO, Massey University researchers, the Serenity Foundation Board, the Gandhi Nivas Advisory Board and generous donors, Ranjna said.

She also praised Sahaayta Counselling Services, led by Sucharita Varma, for developing a programme that focused on supporting the whole extended whānau, not just men.

Ranjna also praised Total Healthcare CEO Mark Vella for his constant support of Gandhi Nivas over the past 10 years. Speaking after the event, Ranjna said Total Healthcare is the only PHO to so extensively support social determinants of health and mental wellness.

Gandhi Nivas opened its first home in December 2014 to address a big gap in the system – the need for a free 24/7 service with qualified counsellors, she said.

Ranjna paid special tribute to the Massey University researchers who have studied Gandhi Nivas for 10 years and the vision of the late Professor James Liu in supporting the research funding and to lead researchers Professor Mandy Morgan and Associate Professor Leigh Coombes.

Gandhi Nivas makes “phenomenal difference”

At an earlier event in March in Wellington at Parliament Police Commissioner Richard Chambers thanked Ranjna and the Gandhi Nivas team on behalf of “the men, the women and the boys and the girls” who have been helped and would be helped by Gandhi Nivas.

“You have made a phenomenal difference for 10 years and I know that will continue,” he said.

“Police leaders current and past – we love people like you," said Commissioner Chambers. "Policing is tough and we can’t do it on our own.

“It’s a credit to the relationships that we have - and Gandhi Nivas is one example of the community partnerships that make such a difference.”

He said family harm took its toll on police as human beings “because it’s some of the most complex work police officers deal with every day.

“When we have initiatives like Gandhi Nivas coming along to the rescue – not of police but the people it’s designed to support – that’s success. And Ranjna, thank you very, very much...”

Valued by police and ethnic communities

Police and Ethnic Communities Minister Mark Mitchell spoke about his experience on the policing frontline. “The reality of this in my policing career was the houses where we saw children cowering under beds or hiding in wardrobes or clinging to a mother who’s knocked out and lying on the floor... you’re having a real impact on those families,” he said.

“With Gandhi Nivas having supported over 6,300 men and their immediate and wider families through their programme, this equates to a great return on investment.

“It’s a service highly valued by police officers on the frontline – because they know it helps. They know it’s impactful, and they know that no matter the time of day or night, people needing assistance can receive it immediately.”

He also noted the Ministry for Ethnic Communities values Gandhi Nivas for its culturally sensitive and linguistically appropriate services.