New Zealand's Minister of Women says she hopes service providers can learn to use Samoan culture to help prevent gender based violence within New Zealand's Samoan families.
A new report released by the Ministry for Women aims to give a Samoan perspective to the problem of violence against women and girls and to find solutions.
It highlights key prevention strategies that already occur and discusses Samoan approaches for trying to end violence.
Louise Upston says the report intends to help policy makers consider unique factors in Samoan culture that could improve things for Samoan women and girls.
"Some of the suggestions included, you know, very active social media, the use of Samoan proverbs - so actually using the unique part of their culture to tell stories and send messages."
Louise Upston says they hope the report's findings will also help to tackle the problem in other Pacific communities in the country.
