The emergency services and armed forces are teaming up in Papamoa this weekend to help put an end to family violence in all of its many forms.

Family violence is not just physical – violence can be psychological and emotional, both of which are very common forms of violence against women and children.

This Sunday at Gordon Spratt Reserve the emergency services and armed forces are banding together for the Emergency Services and Armed Forces Open Day to get a message across – It's okay to ask for help.

Tauranga Moana Abuse Prevention Strategy – or TMAPS – is working with the services to help raise awareness to stop violence.

Family violence response coordinator Heather Beddie from Family Works says our communities are part of the solution.

'To partner with all our emergency services and armed forces sends a clear message across the Bay of Plenty,” says Heather.

'Whether you are a husband, father, son, brother, uncle or granddad, we all have women in our lives that we love and wouldn't want to see subjected to violence.”

The services involved are currently fire, Police, NZ Defence Force, St John ambulance, civil defence, land search and rescue, TrustPower rescue helicopter, plus Classic Flyers and more.

Papamoa Police officer Phil Gillbanks says the event is an important one in the community's calendar.

'It's to raise awareness of family violence in the Western Bay of Plenty, in particular the ‘it's not ok' campaign. It's also to show a unified support by the service organisations as we all recruit from various walks of life.”

'For me it's about pulling as many of the community together who can come down and have a good day at a family-friendly event, come and meet their emergency services personnel, see what equipment we've got and to, at the same time, take a stand against family violence in our community.”

Held at the Gordon Spratt Reserve on Parton Road, there'll be plenty to do for the whole family while getting across all-important key messages.

'The providers of family violence services will also be in attendance and have resources for families and for the children,” says Heather.

'There will be contingent of the ‘it's ok to ask for help' champions throughout the grounds as well as running a colouring competition for children with donated prizes from services and businesses throughout the area.”

'The businesses from Papamoa have been extremely generous and thanks go to them for their commitment to the children.”

Tauranga Moana Abuse Prevention Strategy's Emergency Services and Armed Forces Open Day takes place at Gordon Spratt Reserve in Papamoa on Sunday, October 30, from 10am to 3pm.

For more information visit TMAPS's Facebook page.