A Journey to Safety: One Woman's Story

Written By Kim Manunui

We moved to Taupō to get away from my ex-partner who was abusive. We have a child together so there was always going to be some sort of contact. We began meeting half way to pick up and drop off our daughter for visits. After a while we even began being friendly towards each other.

It was not long after this that Steve moved to Taupō and got a job. He started to slowly become more involved in our lives and then before I knew it we were back in a relationship and living together. Looking back from beginning to end was only like four months.


It did not take long before the controlling behavior started and then the abuse. After one particular bad night my eldest daughter phoned the police and Steve was taken away. I received a call from the Taupō Women's Refuge and they explained who they were and what they could provide. I was taken aback from the call initially but the advocate on the phone was really helpful and made me feel at ease. I agreed to meet and have a chat.


From this a really simple safety plan was done for me and the kids. We talked about what Family Violence was, the effects on everyone, the process of what would happen from now. It was a great feeling to be listened to, to be believed and to be reassured that it is not my fault. Because of the past violence other services became involved. The Refuge advocate was able to support me the whole way through this, I am not sure I could have done it without them.


I attended their weekly Women's Support Group and was able to laugh, cry and vent in a safe and healthy environment. I remember the Refuge advocate telling me in the beginning to take little steps and do things day by day. The best advice I could have taken on board. When everything is falling apart you just want it to be fixed now! I am able to look back to the beginning of my journey to now and realise that without the support from Women's Refuge, my friends and colleagues, I think I would have been stuck in that cycle of always going back. The weekly support group helped me to see and realise the cycles, signs, tactics, the why's and the how's. It enabled us all to get past the guilt we felt and the embarrassment!


My children and I now live without fear and violence, we no longer walk on egg shells. I really feel that with the education and support I received from Refuge, I can now see the early signs and know exactly what it is I want from a healthy relationship. I pride myself in being able to provide this for me and my children.
     Debbie

Kim Manunui

Hi, I’m Kim and I work with a great team to help individuals, as well as small and not so small businesses get their message, product and services to the world using digital media and creating wonderful websites that don’t cost the earth.

I was born in Canada, and grew up around Vancouver and the mountains of British Columbia. My love of pristine environments led me to New Zealand and eventually to the mountains, lakes and rivers of the central North Island which is home. My family’s heritage is here, and it’s from here that Korio traverses the planet.

The digital world is never static and neither are we.

And I say ‘we’ because I work with an awesome group of talented people who I gather together as required to complete a project.  Whatever your business, not-for-profit or individual needs are we gather the best team to get the job done.

Collaboratively we are creative, share sustainable values and work hard for great outcomes because that’s the buzz of satisfaction that drives us.

If you have an audience and market to reach, we can make that happen. Creative design, words that work and smart behind the scenes stuff that cuts through the online noise. We’ll design your website and then build it. We’ll manage the content as well as all your hosting needs. We can handle your online advertising so you get noticed,
and we’ll manage your social media presence so you get the clicks, likes and engagement to grow your business. All within the budget you set, because none of this needs to cost the earth.  And the job doesn’t stop when your website goes live. We are your virtual business partner.

https://www.korio.co.nz
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