TE RITO NEWS
Issue 9, December 2006
Christmas Message from the Minister
As 2006 draws to a close, I want to thank and acknowledge every New Zealander
who has taken part in the difficult task of reducing and preventing family
violence.
The work of every one of us matters, because it is only by sustained community and government action that we will address the
causes and consequences of family violence.
We have worked hard this year to find solutions and build support. We know there is much more to do.
We have a world-class Domestic Violence Act, sending the clear message that violence is a crime. We have community-based
programmes focused on preventing family violence and supporting people who have suffered from it. We have the Taskforce for
Action on Violence within Families, building on the progress made under Te Rito to lead and co-ordinate the vital work in this
area.
What we also need to do is to face our attitudes and behaviours, as individuals and as a society, around family violence.
Looking to the year ahead, the government is backing a major campaign, led by the Taskforce, to bring about much needed
changes in attitudes. We’re funding local communities to run their own programmes and providing resources to inspire and
support their activities, and we’re working with the media to promote a stronger focus on the seriousness of family violence.
We’re all aware that while Christmas is a happy time for many families, for others it is a time of increased violence. At this and
every other time, our work to support families and to eliminate family violence must continue.
I’ll take this opportunity to wish you and your families a safe, restful and happy Christmas, and to thank you again for your work
in 2006.
Minister for Social Development and Employment David Benson-Pope.
How to Have a Merry Christmas
Relationship Services has produced a positive and practical resource to support
people at this time of year.
Christmas is a time when relationships are put under a significant strain, spokesperson Jo Ann Vivian, National Practice Manager
said.
“Whether it’s the thought of spending time with people we generally try to avoid, through to the sobering family violence
statistics for the ‘festive’ season, the reality of Christmas is often very different from the picture we grow up with.”
Relationship Services has put together ‘How to Have a Merry Christmas’, a tips sheet to encourage healthy ways of relating to
others, and to remind people of actions they can take to reduce relationship tensions during Christmas.
The poster includes ideas to reduce people’s stress levels such as:
• ask for help, offer help, co-operation lightens everyone’s load
• if things get tense, take a deep breath, change the subject or walk away
• steer clear of disagreements when you drink.
Relationship Services hopes that it will help people to stop and think about how they are relating to others, and that it will give
people practical tools for changing situations they do not like.
The A4 sized mini poster is designed to be put up on the fridge, and remind people of the simple things they can do to make this a better
Christmas, Ms Vivian said.
It is being distributed through Relationship Services’ 30 offices throughout New Zealand to clients and via local community
networks such as schools, food banks and GPs. Work and Income and Heartland offices are also distributing copies.
Funding for Change
A new fund to assist communities to change attitudes to family violence was
launched on 1 December.
Local projects can get funding of up to $30,000 from the new fund.
The Community Action Fund is part of the ongoing national campaign to prevent family violence. It recognises that communities
know what works locally and that they need support to turn their ideas into action.
The new fund is based on the successful SKIP (Strategies with Kids: Information for Parents) Local Initiatives Fund which has
supported over 120 community-based positive parenting projects over the past three years.
“It is vital to have community action as part of the national campaign to change attitudes and behaviour to prevent family
violence. Communities know what works locally and they need support to turn their ideas into action,” said Project Manager, Paul
Prestidge.
“The fund aims to support some of the great ideas and actions being developed at a community level to stop family violence.
“Its focus is on changing the attitudes and behaviours that ignore, excuse, minimise or trivialise the effects of family violence.”
The fund is open to local community organisations and networks, that:
• have a track record of working in family violence prevention
• have community-wide support
• have a well thought-out plan to effect change in the community.
Each project can receive up to $30,000.
The first round of the Community Action Fund closes on 16 February 2007 and a second round will be held in June 2007. Further
rounds will be held over the next four years.
Application forms and further information on the Community Action Fund are available on the Family and Community
Services website www.familyservices.govt.nz
A Community Action Toolkit full of ideas for setting up community projects will be supporting the fund. The kit covers everything
from how to involve local mayors, through to facilitating meetings and ideas for action. The kit has been tested in communities to
make sure it is useful and accessible. It is available online at www.nzfvc.org.nz/communityaction
Hard copies of the kit are available from violencefree@msd.govt.nz
Midwives Screen for Family Violence
Midwives are well placed to detect family violence and have been receiving
training on how to do this since 2002.
Maternity care is free for all New Zealanders and midwives provide the majority of this care.
Lesley MacLennan, Projects and Contracts Adviser at the New Zealand College of Midwives (NZCOM) believes the role of the
midwife is unique.
“Midwifery care is often provided in the woman’s home and the midwife has many opportunities to talk to women during
pregnancy. Violence against women often begins or escalates with pregnancy and can have significant adverse effects on
pregnancy including premature birth. Midwives are therefore well placed to screen pregnant women for partner violence.
“NZCOM represents over 80% of the practicing midwifery workforce and since July 2002 has held a training contract with the
Ministry of Health to provide family violence education workshops for midwives nationally. These workshops help prepare
midwives to integrate screening and referral for family violence into their care.
“The NZCOM provides a two-day education workshop by a professional family violence educator to a group of midwives. These
midwives then provide six hour regional workshops around the country with the support of the professional educator. They also
provide a resource package for the midwives attending the workshop and follow up any issues raised.
“The focus of the workshops is family violence as a major health issue for women and their families. The workshop content aims
to give midwives an understanding of family violence, its identification and their response.
“Midwives are also very clear that their role is one of screening, identification and referral. Midwives take a multi disciplinary approach to referral and rely on the local primary health care net work and support agencies to support the women
following identification.
“Midwives in the community have lots of opportunities to talk to clients and ask them about violence, but the workshop also
offers strategies for how to safely ask if a woman’s partner is present.
“The College of Midwives is an approved education provider and the free regional workshops are offered as part of the
Midwifery Council recertification programme for midwives. Now, family violence training is also provided as part of the
undergraduate midwifery programme.
“The workshops have been very well received and there is a big demand for more training workshops next year. Our focus is now
on making sure the workshops are sustainable.
“Part of the success of the workshops has been the development of consistent, quality education resources. Everyone attending the
workshops receives a package of resources, including a small wallet prompt card.
“We have had a formal evaluation of the workshops and this was positive. We hope to undertake more evaluations on the success
of the workshops.”
If you would like to view the NZCOM consensus statement on family violence go to: www.midwife.org.nz
White Ribbon Day a Huge Success
White Ribbon Day was a huge success this year with communities all around
New Zealand organising events and spreading the white ribbon message.
Events were held from Northland to Southland.
Hundred of thousands of New Zealanders wore white ribbons on the day and throughout the preceding week to show they don’t
tolerate or condone violence towards women.
Giant white ribbons were strapped to old Parliament Buildings, floating ribbons made of fabric flowed from Auckland Hospital.
A BBQ launch was enjoyed by hundreds on the Monday morning in Wellington. Commuters were given a sausage and a white ribbon
by celebrity cooks.
Street theatre “blokes” entertained passersby at the BBQ and on each day of White Ribbon Week on Wellington’s streets while
white ribbons were handed out.
At a dawn ceremony on the Kapiti Coast locals showed their support for the white ribbon message by linking hands on the beach
to “stem the tide of domestic violence”.
A vigil was held in Wellington’s Civic Square to remember the hundreds of women and children who have been murdered since
1980. Each person was represented by a white windmill.
In Invercargill a community breakfast was held and will now be an annual event.
On Waiheke Island all school pupils went home with a white ribbon as well as all copies of the local newspaper that week.
In Masterton a march was held through the city streets on the Saturday.
In Gisborne the front page of the local newspaper was black with no words, just a white ribbon. Inside the first three pages
featured articles about domestic violence.
In Northland white ribbon posters were put up in men’s public toilets, pubs and sports clubs between Hikurangi and Bream Bay.
Members of a motorcycle club rode through Wellington on the Saturday with all riders wearing white ribbons. “We might look tough but we
don’t condone violence towards women,” they said. They plan to encourage bikers around the country to join in next year.
In Otago volunteer lawyers distributed white ribbons and information on domestic violence.
In Porirua people were invited to sign a banner ‘These Hands Will Never Be Used In Violence’.
In Whangarei a Windows of Love campaign invited shop owners to be part of a positive anti-violence message in the community.
More than 200,000 ribbons, a fourfold increase on last year, proved to be not nearly enough as many communities ran out within
hours.
The White Ribbon message was carried in all national and most local media including all TV channels and most daily
newspapers.
This year social service agencies worked together to make the day a significant event in New Zealand. Those involved include
MSD, the Families Commission, YWCA, Human Rights Commission, National Network of Stopping Violence Services,
Relationship Services, Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Amnesty International, Save the Children, Auckland Public Health,
Women’s Refuge, Jigsaw, Police and Unicef.
Minister of Women’s Affairs Leanne Dalziel with Families Commission Chief Executive Paul Curry and National Network of Stopping Violence Services National Manager
Tauiwi Brian Gardner on the steps of Parliament.
Street theatre “blokes” provide entertainment and enticement at the BBQ launch of White Ribbon Week at Wellington Railway Station.
Photos supplied by National Network of Stopping Violence Services and the Families Commission.
Waiheke Island Agency Offers Support to Perpetrators
Waiheke Island’s Living without Violence agency is trialling a new violence
prevention initiative that contacts men via the Pol400 they receive from the
Police.
Cathy Forbes, women’s coordinator, says in the past only victims were contacted.
“We were discussing how hard it is to reach men. It is more likely that women will contact organisations for help.
“This is particularly true after an incident of violence. If the perpetrator is not arrested there is no follow up – we will call the women
involved, but if the man isn’t arrested there is no follow up with him.
“We thought contacting the men directly was a way to be proactive in talking to the men involved. It is an ideal opportunity to try and
prevent further violence.
“After receiving a warning from Police, the men involved may be ready to hear something new,” says Cathy.
Bill Kinghorn, the men’s group facilitator, contacts the men and so far has had a mixed response, however one person has been
interested in receiving more information.
Before starting to trial the initiative Living without Violence investigated the legality of contacting the men identified through the
Pol400.
“There were no legal issues and local police are very supportive of the initiative and keen to see how the work goes.
“It is very early days yet, and we will be reviewing how successful it has been in about three months,” says Cathy.
Children’s Day Moves to March
National Children’s Day will be held on Sunday 4 March next year. It has been moved from October to March.
Now is the time to plan an event for children.
Visit the Children’s Day website for ideas on event planning as well as ideas of activities to do at home and at school.
The day will be represented by Hector’s Dolphin and the key theme is “giving time”.
Visit www.childrensday.org.nz or phone 0800 10 33 22 to find out more.
Community Action Kit Inspires Local Campaign
The Community Action Toolkit has proved its worth in Taupo where a campaign
to raise awareness about family violence is in full swing.
The kit has been used to launch a localised campaign that aims to increase the number of reported incidents of domestic violence.
“This kit is full of ideas for setting up community projects and covers everything from how to involve local mayors, through to
facilitating meetings and ideas for action,” spokesperson for the Taupo family violence network Carole Parker said.
“The Community Action Kit worked extremely well. It really helped us to formulate our ideas for a local campaign and to also
focus our ideas for messages and campaign activities,” said Carole.
“We also found the information in the Community Action Kit workbook really helpful, and have actually used some of that
information as supporting editorial in our campaign newspaper advertisements.
“We want our campaign to promote community responsibility for reporting violence. We have two main aims, firstly we want to
increase local awareness of domestic violence and to encourage the local community to do something about it.
“We are asking people to not take the easy option – but instead if they know about or see domestic violence – to do something
about it. Secondly, we want to let people know where they can get help.
“Our campaign messages let people know the best thing to do if they witness a violent incident is to call 111 and talk to the Police.
Otherwise they can contact our two local Women’s Refuges, or drop into Waiora House our community house which is home to a
lot of agencies working in the domestic violence sector.”
Local Police in Taupo attend over 560 calls out to domestic violence incidents every year.
“The campaign has involved the printing of 10,000 brochures which we have out in the community at banks and libraries. We will
also be sending a brochure to every household in the district.
“The brochures are being supported by posters, radio advertisements and newspaper advertisements. The newspaper
advertisements include editorial on different issues, such as ‘alcohol related violence’ and will run weekly in the lead-up to
Christmas.
“We are also working with local schools to put information about agencies that can help into school newsletters, and we are
working with neighbourhood support to identify the different agencies that people can contact if they witness domestic violence.”
The Community Action Kit is available online at: www.nzfvc.org.nz/communityaction
Marlborough Violence Intervention Project
Hosts Conference
A conference to develop strategies for the prevention of violence in the
Marlborough area was held during November.
It was hosted by the Marlborough Violence Intervention Project and coincided with White Ribbon Day.
The Marlborough Violence Intervention Network is made up of local agencies working within the family violence sector. A
couple of years ago they decided they wanted to work collaboratively to have a bigger impact.
They approached Chris Elphick – a local consultant – to help them develop a strategic approach to their work, and jointly
developed a year-long campaign focussing on zero tolerance for domestic violence in Marlborough.
“We launched the campaign in July with two focuses – raising awareness and prevention – and more specifically, who can do
what to help,” said Chris.
“People in Marlborough had a kind of smugness common to most places in New Zealand – the feeling that violence happens
somewhere else, not in Marlborough – so a campaign to raise awareness was really important.
“We developed safety messages and produced a lot of campaign materials like posters, beer mats, bumper stickers and cinema
ads. We are also working with Marlborough Express, the local newspaper, to run features with a domestic violence focus.
“We are continuing to use these materials to reinforce our presence at local events like ‘Blues and Brews’ the ‘BMW Wine
Festival’ and local Children’s Day activities.
“The materials are already used in local business who have generally been very supportive, and we have been getting out and
talking to people about the huge economic cost domestic violence has on our community.
“As part of the campaign we wanted to hold this two day conference to focus on all the work people are doing in the Marlborough
region, and to develop an ongoing local agenda for action,” says Chris.
Angie Brott from Marlborough Women’s Refuge and a member of the Marlborough Violence Intervention Network is
enthusiastic about the local campaign.
“The inter-agency approach is working incredibly well and there is a lot of enthusiasm for the work from all the agencies
involved.
“The conference was a great success with enough people to generate lots of good ideas. We are now looking forward to putting
preventative strategies in place, raising community awareness and helping to change local attitudes towards violence.”
If you would like more information about the Marlborough Violence Intervention Project campaign or the conference please
contact Chris Elphick at: c.elphick@xtra.co.nz
Copies of earlier issues of Te Rito News are available: we have listed below the
articles appearing in each followed by the lead agency in brackets.
Issue 4, December 2005
White Ribbon Day (NGO)
Family Safety Teams update (Police, Justice, CYF)
Research on Perpetrators Commissioned (MSD/Families Commission)
Amokura ‘Step Back’ Programme (NGO)
Youth Non-Violence Project (NGO)
Toughlove (NGO)
Sexual Violence Agencies form Network (NGO)
DV Free (NGO)
Banff Conference Report
Strong Pasifika Families Week (MSD)
NZ Parliamentarians Report
Issue 5, April 2006
Prime Minister’s ACCAN speech
ACCAN Conference summary
Children Keep Abuse a Secret (Children’s Issues Centre)
Filicide Difficult to Predict (research paper)
Visiting Expert Advocates Team Approach (ACCAN presentation)
Portable Exhibition on Family Violence (NGO)
Links with Faith Community (NGO)
Keeping Ourselves Safe for Preschoolers (Police)
Domestic Violence Linked with Natural Disasters (research paper)
Community Action Toolkit Updated (MSD/ACC)
Issue 6, June 2006
More Money for Family Violence (MSD)
Witnessing Violence Project update (MSD)
Toolkit Trialled in Seven Communities (MSD/ACC)
American Expert Visits NZ (NGO)
Hui Call for Action (NGO)
Social Marketing – a New Approach (MSD)
Violence Awareness Training for Medical Staff (NGO/PHO)
Family Violence Intervention Programme Completes Roll-out (MSD)
Women’s Refuge Maori Growth Strategy (NGO)
To order back issues of Te Rito News please email violencefree@familyservices.govt.nz stating which issues(s) you want, how
many copies and your postal address.