Hundreds of people in Ōpōtiki will march against domestic violence on Thursday after a woman was killed in the town.
A 35-year-old man appeared in the Whakatane District Court on Wednesday accused of murdering a woman during a domestic dispute.
Ōpōtiki resident Gus Temoni says White Ribbon Week makes it important to make a stand.
"Aroha and love to the families that have lost their loved ones. It's just the timing of what's happened. It's made it even more important for us to march through our main town centre to show violence to women is unacceptable.
"As a father, I want to have a safe environment, as we all worry about our kids. I want to have my daughter brought up in an environment where she has a voice so she can say that violence against women is not acceptable.
"It's definitely more important now than ever for us as a community to stand up, get together and actually looks at this as something that's not acceptable in our community."
The march will begin on Church St in Ōpōtiki at midday.
Newshub.
