The Royal Commission’s reports into the abuse of young people in state care are shocking and important but we must acknowledge that the most dangerous institution in New Zealand are families. In fact, it’s a relatively small percentage of families. More damage is done to children by these families than by the state. Regarding the Read more
In an effort to counter family violence effectively, a new qualification teaching Pacific cultural competence has been launched in New Zealand. Advocacy groups worked together to create the new qualification which will provide important skills to those working with Pacific families. Its importance is in no doubt: in New Zealand. Pacific children are 2.5 times Read more
The scourge of domestic and family violence must end – so say Australia’s Catholic Social Services Victoria and the Catholic Diocese of Sale. They’re on a mission to educate, inform and equip parish communities to address the problem. They put together a pilot programme, ‘Shining A Light’, and ran it between March and July last Read more
“Hurt” people hurt people. Those who have been hurt or broken in life often respond by striking out and hurting or harming the people who are near them. Many abusers are victims of abuse. Many bullies are victims of bullying. These pain patterns get passed on generation after generation. Elisha is Jeered … Elisha went Read more
Matalena Sowman assaulted her adopted daughter in church, as she was christening her son, for giving the child the Sowman family name. The 55-year-old Blenheim woman approached her daughter who had been standing at the front of the church, stood in front of her then took her infant son and passed the baby to someone Read more
There’s the Covid pandemic – we all know about that; and then there’s the hidden pandemic. That’s the one where New Zealanders bash each other up. Preferably their nearest and dearest. The hidden pandemic’s the one Matt and Sarah Brown, founders of global anti-violence movement She Is Not Your Rehab, have spent years working to Read more
More than 200 people attended a White Ribbon barbecue in Timaru to show their support against family violence. Free barbecue food was provided to members of the public, and served by the Rapid Relief Team, in a tent outside Mitre 10 Mega on Friday. Te Rito Collaboration co-ordinator Michelle Thew said some people at the Read more
Domestic abuse victims are speaking out about no-fault divorce settlements that see their abusers entitled to 50 percent of the marital property. Sometimes hundreds of thousands of dollars change hands. Some say they paid for the property while their spouse abused them and paid for little or nothing. One woman said her ex-husband was laughing Read more
Churches in New Zealand have a long history of taking strong positions in the public square on social justice. In a well known example, William Rutherford Waddell found great inequalities and deprivation in the St. Andrew’s parish of Dunedin during an economic downturn in the 1880s. He was determined the church should make a difference Read more
Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis has denied Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki’s claims that the Government has stifled his attempts for the church to work in prisons. He echoed comments made earlier by Justice Minister Andrew Little, who said Destiny had never actually made a formal application to partner with the Government to work in prisons. Read more