Roma Cherry Balzer QSO CNZM (born 1954) is a New Zealand family violence prevention advocate. She has worked in family violence prevention for more than forty years. In 2005 Balzer was appointed a Companion of the Queen’s Service Order for her services to families and the community. In 2019 she was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to services to family violence prevention.
Roma Balzer | |
|---|---|
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| Born | 1954 |
| Awards | Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit |
Early life and education
editBalzer is Māori and affiliates to Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāi Te Rangi, Raukawa and Te Aroha iwi.[1] She was born in 1954 in Rotorua, and attended Rotorua Girls' High School.[2] Balzer worked at Tokanui Hospital, teaching disabled children, for two years.[3] She moved around for several years, and during time spent in Hamilton joined the Women's Health Collective, and attended evening classes on women in politics. Returning to Rotorua as a solo parent with three children, Balzer began working in paid and volunteer roles in community support.[3] Balzer was involved in the protests again the 1981 Springbok tour and was arrested at Bastion Point.[3]
Balzer has worked in family violence prevention for more than forty years.[4] Balzer joined the steering group of the Rotorua Women's Refuge, and then represented Rotorua on the executive of the National Women's Refuge.[1] In 1986 she became the first Māori National Co-ordinator of Women Refuges.[1][5] Balzer worked with the Ministry of Social Development to develop a residential programme for children in Hamilton in the youth justice system, and with Oranga Tamariki to establish a home for children in state care with complex needs.[4] Balzer founded the Silent Witness Project to identify people killed due to family violence.[4]
Balzer was a trustee for Te Runanga o Kirikiriroa for twenty years, standing down in 2017.[4] She is on the governance board of Reclaim Another Woman, an organisation that works to support women and end intergenerational offending.[6]
Honours and awards
editIn the 2005 Queen's Birthday Honours Balzer was appointed a Companion of the Queen’s Service Order for her services to families and the community.[4][7] In the 2019 Queen's Birthday Honours she was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to services to family violence prevention.[4]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Roma Balzer | 100 Maori Leaders". 100maorileaders.com. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
- ^ "Interview with Roma Balzer". National Library of New Zealand. 22 April 1993. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
- ^ a b c Houkamou, Amo (1 March 1984). "Caring for people". Tu Tangata. p. 52. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f "Queen's Birthday Honours 2019 – Citations for Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit | Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC)". www.dpmc.govt.nz. 3 June 2019. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
- ^ Gregory, Angela (30 September 2003). "Drug putting women at risk". The New Zealand Herald.
- ^ "OUR BOARD". Reclaim Another Woman. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
- ^ "The Queen's Birthday Honours List 2005 | Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC)". www.dpmc.govt.nz. 6 June 2005. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
External links
edit- Aroha – shelters and protects whānau, Roma Balzer talking about the value of aroha, E Tū Whānau, 17 May 2017
- Balzer speaking at the 2018 Te Whakaruruhau Symposium, Ngā Pae o Te Māramatanga, via Vimeo