Hundreds rally against sexual violence in Wellington

9:46 pm on 31 March 2021

About 500 people have gathered on Courtenay Place in Wellington to rally against sexual violence in the city.

People gathered on Courtenay Place in Wellington to rally against sexual violence.

Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

The rally, organised by the Wellington Alliance Against Sexual Violence, is calling on the local council, government, and Hospitality New Zealand to commit to changing the culture of Wellington, which the alliance says permits and perpetuates sexual violence.

It wants a revamp of the central city, a strategy to prevent violence that hospitality staff can implement and more funding for sexual violence prevention organisations.

Speakers at the rally include city councillor Tamatha Paul and Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence Marama Davidson.

Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Tamatha Paul committed to working on a revitalised central city, but warned that alone would not fix the problem.

"I will walk away and work on that but I also want to make it clear that we could do everything in this space - we could make the lights brighter we could take the cars out, we could get rid of all the construction but unless we address the problem at the root the problem will not change."

Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Marama Davidson also promised to do what she could.

"As a Minister I will support and will do everything in my power to start to move our country towards that beautiful vision.

"Towards a vision that holds sacred the safety of every single person, the safety of every single woman, the safety of every disabled woman, the safety of Māori woman, the safety of every Pasifika woman, the safety of every trans woman."