Tuning in for Brave

Hamilton basement bar Nivara Lounge hosted a charity music event in support of Brave NZ last Friday. Wintec | Te Pūkenga journalism student Sarah Morcom spoke to some musicians at the event.

Change of awareness and attitudes around sexual harm was a primary focus for a Hamilton music event last week and the message hit home with the musicians themselves.

The event, in support of Brave NZ, a charity that aims to raise awareness about sexual harm and abuse among Aotearoa’s youth was hosted at the Nivara Lounge on Victoria Street and raised around $500 for the charity.

Dan O’Rourke, a local guitarist and singer/songwriter who played at the event felt strongly about the importance of Brave’s purpose.

The artist said that at school he lived in a testosterone fuelled culture and “the cultures perpetuated in that boarding school took a while for me to grow out of”.

“Women were like some foreign being that we knew nothing about… and I think there was a level of dehumanisation that went on there, too.

“There was no education for us about how to treat, not even just women, but people in general”.

Brave aims to raise awareness among youth about sexual harm and abuse.

It was represented on the night by Alpha Tan who said the charity, founded by Jess Tyson, aimed to reach as many young people as possible.

Tan played several songs at the event.

“We want for those who have gone through abuse to know that there’s a path to get back their life and get back their mana and strength in spite of what’s happened.

“There’s more to them than just an experience; that’s not their identity.”

The charity visits schools as part of their initiative, speaking with students from years 11-13. 

While schools in New Zealand already have sexual health curriculums, Brave wishes to incorporate more education about consent into these classes.

Brave’s message is already being incorporated into the sex education of some Auckland schools, but they would like to reach more schools across the country.

‘We’d like to sort of encourage conversation around the taboo subject of sex’.

Many of the artists spoke on stage, expressing their support for the cause and their reasons for agreeing to play at the event.

O’Rourke said he thought there was a “huge gap” in New Zealand’s sex education curriculum, and sexual health classes should be expanded to account for that. 

According to Brave’s website, one in three girls experience sexual harm before the age of 16, and one in seven boys experience sexual harm before adulthood.

The charity wishes to educate youth on how to seek help in a safe and productive way.

“Brave wants to empower rangatahi, our youth, to know that it’s safe to speak out about sexual harm and abuse, and to know and be aware if they are in a toxic or abusive Relationship”, Tan said.