He pitopito kōrero
News
News stories
Research on health impacts related to IPV
The researchers found that negative health outcomes were related to lifetime experiences of intimate partner violence (IPV) for both men and women. Compared to those who had not experienced IPV, both men and women who had experienced IPV in their lifetime were more likely to report some adverse health outcomes. However, these health impacts differed by gender.
Women who had experienced any type of IPV (physical, sexual, psychological, controlling or economic) were at increased risk of experiencing 5 of the 7 negative health outcomes assessed in the study. This includes being nearly 3 times more likely to report having a diagnosed mental health condition, twice as likely to report poor general health, and 1.5 times more likely to report having a diagnosed physical health condition (such as heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, asthma).
For men, experience of any type of IPV was associated with 4 of the 7 health outcomes. However, the increased risks were smaller (e.g. 1.7 times increased risk of a diagnosed mental condition). There was no association with having a diagnosed physical health condition for men who had experienced any type of IPV.
There were also gender differences in the types of violence experienced, and the health outcomes reported. For women, all types of violence were associated with multiple negative health outcomes. Severe physical IPV and controlling IPV were significantly associated with 6 of the 7 health outcomes including diagnosed physical health conditions and diagnosed mental health conditions, poor general health, recent pain or discomfort, recent pain medication, and frequent pain medication. Women who experienced sexual IPV were more likely to experience problems with 5 of the 7 health outcomes with a significant link to pain. The findings also indicate a strong cumulative pattern; the more types of violence women experienced, the more likely they were to experience health outcomes. For example, women who had experienced 4 to 5 types of IPV (over 1 in 10 women) were 4 times more likely to report a diagnosed mental health condition.
For men, any physical IPV was related to poor general health, recent pain or discomfort and frequent use of pain medication. This relationship was linked to exposure to severe physical violence. Psychological IPV was also linked with poor general health and a diagnosed mental health condition. After adjusting for sociodemographic factors, there was also no link between health outcomes and experiences of sexual IPV, controlling behaviours or economic abuse for men. There also was not a clear pattern of cumulative health impacts from experiencing multiple forms of violence.
The researchers suggest that "The different health consequences observed for men and women with IPV exposure may be explained by gendered differences in the nature of the violence experienced." The article includes a discussion of these gendered patterns. It notes for example that women's experiences of violence may reflect "chronic patterns of IPV" that might be related to worse health outcomes. They also note that the findings related to health impacts from controlling violence
"...further substantiates claims that experience of controlling behaviors is a highly gendered phenomenon, and dynamics of power and control (which often underpin other IPV types) may play a crucial role in the differences in health outcomes between men and women who experience violent acts."
Noting these gendered differences, the researchers suggest routine inquiry for IPV against men is not needed in clinical settings, but they do call for the provision of appropriate care and services for men who have experienced IPV.
Given the significant impacts to women's health, the researchers call for IPV to be given the same attention as other key determinants of health, writing:
"To adequately address the increased likelihood of adverse health outcomes associated with women’s exposure to IPV, health professionals need to be engaged in nuanced understanding of IPV identification and appropriate responses and should be well supported to provide robust referral options within proactive and dynamic health care systems. Given the higher rates of violence exposure for Māori women and women who were food insecure, health and referral services also need to be equipped to address these disparities. Development of these responsive health care systems must be underpinned by well-designed and comprehensive IPV curricula in medical and health training..."
The research team included Brooklyn Mellar, Ladan Hashemi, Vanessa Selak, Pauline Gulliver, Tracey McIntosh and Janet Fanslow. The researchers used population-based data from the 2019 New Zealand Family Violence Survey | He Koiora Matapopore.
Research findings are published in 2 open access (free) articles in JAMA Open Network:
You can find all articles published from the 2019 NZ Family Violence Study | He Koiora Matapopore in our library.
In an interview with Waatea News Minister Marama Davidson commented on the importance of the research, highlighting that "...violence is a social a determinant of health."
Related research
Atawhai is a three-year research project in the Bay of Plenty that is currently looking at how to make it easier for primary care professionals to respond to whānau experiencing or using violence. The project is funded by the Health Research Council of New Zealand and being led by Dr Claire Gear, Research Fellow at the AUT Centre for Interdisciplinary Trauma Research. In talking about the project, Claire Gear has previously said "Family violence is a key determinant of ill health. To prevent future harm, the value of responding to family violence must be explicitly recognised within health care policy and practice."
Recent research from Australia has looked at health impacts and violence:
A life course approach to determining the prevalence and impact of sexual violence in Australia: Findings from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health (2022) published by ANROWS
Lifetime health costs of intimate partner violence: A prospective longitudinal cohort study with linked data for out-of-hospital and pharmaceutical costs (2022) published in the journal Economic Modelling
Related media
What new data tells us about the realities of family violence for NZ women, Stuff, 31.03.2023
Partner violence bad for mental health, Waatea News, 10.03.2023 (also listen to the full interview with Professor Tracey McIntosh, Waatea News, 09.03.2023
Report claims even worse consequences for victims of family violence, Te Ao Māori News, 08.03.2023
Family Violence Death Review Committee 8th report
The Family Violence Death Review Committee’s (the Committee) 8th report, An ongoing duty to care | He tauwhiro haere te mahi (2023), looks at the experience of children affected by a death resulting from family violence. They reported the need for an after-care system and support for surviving children:
"The lived experiences of whānau and families from in-depth reviews of homicide events highlighted the ongoing impact of the lack of an after-care system. Some surviving children were made homeless, while others struggled with drug and alcohol problems. Some participants spoke clearly about difficulties in establishing safe and stable support structures."
The Committee followed the approach described in their 7th Report, by looking at the barriers to whānau and families finding the support they need, rather than blaming them for not finding that support. This approach showed “...how the actions (or lack of action) of agencies and institutions serve to enhance inequities, rather than providing a context for healing and recovery.”
The report also found pockets of good practice that can guide the development of proper after-care systems. They give the example of Ngā Tini Whetū, as a prototype using a Whānau Ora commissioning model to support families and whānau, saying “Service provision and support through a trusted provider also enhances engagement with whānau, increasing the likelihood for success.”
The Committee recommended a system to identify and support surviving whānau. Support would be tailored and whānau-led to respond to what they need, when they need it.
"In the Committee’s view, moving further towards an ideal solution requires these core components of an after-care system:
• a trigger system that helps to identify surviving family or whānau members from a family violence homicide. A question to consider is how similar existing postvention support systems for sudden unexpected death in infancy could be extended to family violence homicides
• a professional ally with specialist skills and experience who acts as a ‘super-advocate’ for surviving whānau or family members
• a whole child/whole whānau approach mediated by the professional ally to recognise the impact of loss, the need to lean on someone, the need for expertise about resources within the system and the advantages of someone with power to procure necessary resources
• a tailored approach that is family- or whānau-led, responding to what they need." (p11 of report)
In launching the report, the Committee Chair Fiona Cram said “The current system isn’t designed with the wellbeing of surviving whānau in mind." She also said
“Each family and whānau situation will be unique and complex in different ways and could include conflict over care arrangements for surviving whānau members and long-term experience of trauma.
“Each of these situations requires specialist skills. Having a system set up to support them during this time will have a life-long impact.”
This report follows last year’s Seventh report | Pūrongo tuawhitu: A duty to care | Me manaaki te tangata (2022), which looked at how government agencies have shifted from the ‘caring pathway’ for people who have experienced violence. It described how a duty to care based on whakapapa, whanaungatanga and manaakitanga could support whānau and families to prevent violence, prevent the escalation of violence and facilitate healing.
Auditor-General report
The findings from the Family Violence Death Review Committee are consistent with the Auditor-General’s recent report on Whānau Ora and whānau-centred approaches released in February 2023, which found that public organisations more generally were not working in ways that supported whānau.
The report, How well public organisations are supporting Whānau Ora and whānau-centred approaches, highlighted the limited progress towards supporting Whānau Ora (the funding programme under Te Puni Kōkiri) and whānau-centred approaches, despite several reports finding that Whānau Ora is successful for many whānau. In the report overview, the Auditor-General wrote “Public organisations need clear expectations for how they should support Whānau Ora and other whānau-centred approaches.”
The Auditor-General made 7 Recommendations:
- For Te Puni Kōkiri to clarify their mandate in broadening whānau-centred approaches;
- For Te Puni Kōkiri to prioritise improving how it measures and reports the impacts and outcomes of whānau-centred approaches;
- For Te Puni Kōkiri to improve the accessibility of this information to public organisations, non-government organisations, and the public;
- For Te Puni Kōkiri to clarify expectations that public organisations support whānau-centred approaches;
- For the Social Wellbeing Board to better enable whānau-centred approaches in commissioning social services;
- For the Treasury and Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission to guide public organisations about joint working and funding arrangements that would support the use of whānau-centred approaches; and
- For Te Puni Kōkiri to clarify the ‘complementary effort’ that public organisations are expected to provide for Whānau Ora.
An earlier 2015 review of Whānau Ora by the Auditor General, Whānau Ora: the first four years, found similar results, with government agencies lacking understanding and support for Whānau Ora.
Findings from a 2018 independent review of Whānau Ora, Tipu Matoro ki te Ao were also similar. They found that despite Whānau Ora creating positive, sustainable change for whānau, government agencies still lacked understanding of and commitment to Whānau Ora. The 2018 review made several recommendations to apply whānau-centred approaches more widely throughout government.
Related news
The Health Quality & Safety Commission (HQSC) is seeking applications for the inaugural National Mortality Review Committee (NMRC). Applications close on 28 April 2023. The NMRC is being established as part of changes to the national mortality review function. These changes include establishing a single national mortality review committee supported by subject matter expert groups. The NMRC will operate as the primary advisor on mortality review to the HQSC, reviewing and reporting on specified classes of death, with the aim of reducing preventable deaths. The NMRC will be stood up from 1 July 2023. The call for applicants states:
"We are seeking applicants who will bring a relational approach to interacting and communicating with others. Strategic system-wide thinking, the ability to understand the practical application of Te Tiriti in mortality review, and an understanding of the causes and consequences of inequities across society will be essential for this role. Lived experience will also be a key element of the Committee’s overall make up."
For more information see the HQSC call for applications. For more information about the changes see our news story Changes to national mortality review committees, including FVDRC and the NMRC terms of reference.
Related media
Family say court suppressions made toddler death 'invisible', RNZ, 21.11.2023
Name suppression leaves dead toddler 'faceless and nameless' - whānau, RNZ, 21.11.2023
Whānau ora model for child poverty action, Waatea News, 17.05.2023
Merepeka Raukawa-Tait | Chair for the Whanau Ora Commissioning Agency, Waatea News, 12.05.2023
Latest family violence report proffers mātauranga Māori as solution, Te Ao Māori News, 09.03.2023
Whānau know best, Te Pūtahitanga o Te Waipounamu blog, 03.03.2023
State organisations fail Whānau Ora - Auditor General, Te Ao Māori News, 17.02.2023
Media focus on pornography and young people
Media has increasingly drawn attention to pornography and the impacts on young people, as well as the need to provide education and have conversations with young people. In response to a recent media campaign, academic and community education experts highlighted that "...what was notably absent for us was the challenging (and much less sexy!) conversation about the nature of mainstream pornography, including how it portrays sex and how that might be affecting youth and wider sexual cultures."
Their article in The Spinoff, 'An academic response to Porn Week', raised issues around how consent, aggression, 'rough sex' and sexual violence are depicted in pornography. The authors noted that:
"...young people themselves say they are often uncomfortable about what they see in porn, that they are not having the conversations they want and need, and that porn is shaping and shifting sexual norms among their peers. A key area of concern in relation to these shifting sexual norms is so-called “rough sex”."
The authors of the article were Dr Samantha Keene, Nikki Denholm, Professor Nicola Gavey, Dr Kris Taylor, Dr Jade Le Grice and Associate Professor Melanie Beres.
Porn Week was a campaign run by Netsafe from 7 - 13 November 2022. The campaign included a series of articles about pornography on The Spinoff.
Recent research on relationship and sexuality education
Two recent research reports examined the experiences of teachers and school leaders/principals in Aotearoa New Zealand in relation to the Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) guidelines that were refreshed in 2020.
New Zealand secondary school teachers’ perspectives on teaching Relationships and Sexuality Education (2022) summarised findings of a survey of 190 secondary school teachers in New Zealand about their experiences teaching RSE. While the research showed some positive aspects, it identified many gaps. Findings include that many students are not receiving the 12-15 hours of RSE recommended by the Ministry of Education and the Education Review Office. Teachers identified many barriers to teaching RSE including lack of time, access to professional development, subject status, an inconsistent whole-of-school approach and less confidence integrating mātauranga Māori and other cultural knowledge perspectives. Family Planning chief executive Jackie Edmond said:
"This survey supports the calls from young people for better relationships and sexuality education. It’s unsettling to find through this survey that not much appears to have changed since the last report on RSE, and teachers are telling us they need support.
We actually have an excellent set of guidelines on how schools should teach this area of the curriculum. But there are too many barriers and challenges to ensure high quality and meaningful RSE that meets the evolving learning needs of our rangatahi."
The research and report were completed by the University of Canterbury, Family Planning New Zealand and the New Zealand Health Education Association.
Researchers at the University of Canterbury also published the report, Exploring the landscape of relationships and sexuality education in primary schools in New Zealand (2023). The report summarises findings from a survey and focus groups with teachers and school leaders/principals at primary schools in relation to the RSE guidelines. The findings provide an overview of awareness about the guidelines, confidence in meeting the community consultation requirements, whole school approaches, work with external providers, teachers' perceptions and confidence, and barriers and enablers to teaching the guidelines. The report concludes with questions that schools and teachers could consider to explore recommendations leading to effective RSE practice.
Update: Rangatahi Perspectives on Hauora and Wellbeing: A Qualitative Report from Aotearoa (2023) shares findings from interviews with 56 culturally diverse rangatahi (young people) aged 16–20. The report highlighted the impact of racism and rigid gender stereotypes on rangatahi, as well as challenges rangatahi experienced in talking about sexuality, relationships and sex. Also see the related articles ‘You can’t really define it can you?’ Rangatahi perspectives on hauora and wellbeing (2021) and ‘Hāpai te hauora’— ‘it’s like breathing your ancestors into life’. Navigating journeys of rangatahi wellbeing (2022).
For more research, search our library under the keyword topics pornography and sexuality education.
Update: Family Planning developed 2 resources with information on what relationships and sexuality education is and answers to common questions about relationship and sexuality education in August 2023.
Resources to support talking with young people
The Light Project developed a new online resource kit for health professionals on Youth and Porn Navigating the Issues. The kit includes 12 resources across three areas:
- understanding young people and porn
- how to engage in shame-free porn conversations and equip young people with porn literacy skills
- help with assessing and responding to youth and porn concerns in the workplace.
The Light Project is run by a team of sexual and public health professionals who work alongside New Zealand youth health services, schools, sexual violence prevention services and youth organisations to provide information and resources addressing issues related to porn and young people. Resources are available for youth, whānau and professionals. Also see their website for youth, In The Know.
The Shifting the Line research project developed a new model for working boys and young men towards the primary prevention of gendered violence. The Shifting the Line research "...provides a model for making sense of the relationship between rigid and potentially harmful gender norms for men and a theory of change for how to help boys and young men break free of the influence of these norms." For more information see their report Shifting the line: boys talk on gender, sexism and online ethics (2021), resources from the project, and interviews with researcher Kris Taylor on 95bfm and researcher Nicola Gavey on RNZ as well as the article Boys (still) don't cry: How thinking outside the 'man box' could help prevent violence.
The Keep It Real Online campaign a New Zealand Government public awareness campaign to support children and young people to be safe online. It is led by the Department of Internal Affairs. The www.keepitrealonline.govt.nz website has resources and information for parents, educators and youth. It covers a range of online issues including online bullying, relationships and sexuality education including porn, grooming and coercive online sexual relationships, sharing intimate images and social-emotional safety skills.
Family Planning New Zealand provides a range of advice for parents and carers as well as information on relationships, relationships and sexuality education and keeping safe.
Resources designed to support the Ministry of Education's Relationships and Sexuality Education guidelines include a module to support teachers to talk about pornography. The module, Ka huri i te kōrero | Changing the conversations, was developed by the Ministry of Education and the Classification Office.
The Classification Office also developed a guide for parents and carers to talk with young people about pornography.
Communities and educators are increasingly developing resources for young people to explore questions related to their relationships and sexuality including podcasts, videos and websites.
- Tapu Vā is an online platform that provides a safe space for people in the Pasifika community to share their experiences with sexual health and wellbeing. People can share their stories and read stories from other people. The website also features videos of health professionals, students and Pasifika champions sharing about their personal experiences with talking about sex with their parents, contraception and more. Tapu Vā is a collaboration between Hard Luck Design and Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand.
- Ai – Let’s Talk About Sex, is a digital series for rangatahi over 18 years about sexual health. It features 12 videos where rangatahi explore a range of topics including consent, porn, relationships and more.
- Te Pūtahitanga o Te Waipounamu is refreshing their rangatahi sexual health campaign #sexkōrero. The campaign is for rangatahi, led by rangatahi, focused on giving accurate understanding and knowledge of what to look out for, be aware of, or where to go when sexual health and wellbeing is concerned.
- Shama has been supporting ethnic community groups across Aotearoa New Zealand to work on sexual violence prevention. Several of these projects include videos about consent and healthy relations designed by and for ethnic community groups.
New 'Love better' campaign
The government has launched a new campaign called Love Better which "...will initially support young people through their experience of break-ups, developing positive and life-long attitudes to dealing with hurt." In the campaign overview the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) notes that the campaign "...will complement curriculum-based programmes and other cohort-specific campaigns being led by the Health Promotion Agency (HPA), E Tū Whānau and Pasefika Proud." MSD also notes that this first phase will focus on supporting young people through break ups. It also notes The campaign is supported by Youthline. People who need support can text lovebetter to 234, email lovebetter@youthline.co.nz, or call 0800 376 633. See further information about the campaign in the related media below.
Calls for consent reform
A petition calling for law reform related to consent, launched by Layba Zubair, was delivered to Parliament in September 2022 with more than 12,000 signatures. To learn more listen to a 95bfm interview with Layba and see the related media below. Students have also called for mandatory consent education. However, Associate Professor Melanie Beres has previously written about the need to move beyond consent education, commenting that "If we want to reduce Aotearoa’s sexual violence rates, we need to shift our focus from solely teaching young people about consent and instead work to dismantle harmful gender norms that have trapped our youth for generations."
Related news: UN experts' call to action on sexuality education
Several UN experts came together to publish A Compendium on Comprehensive Sexuality Education (2023). It provides an overview of international obligations and standards, and recommendations from UN experts. It concludes with 7 calls to actions for states to provide comprehensive sexuality education:
"1. Respect and protect the key principles of non-discrimination, equality, and privacy, as well as bodily integrity, autonomy, dignity, and well-being of individuals, especially in relation to sexual and reproductive health rights.
2. Respect, protect and implement the human right to quality education and lifelong learning, including comprehensive sexuality education. This includes adopting and strengthening legislation as well as designing, implementing public policies and curricula, aimed at guaranteeing this right without any form of discrimination.
3. Put in place effective implementation mechanisms, such as: ensuring that comprehensive sexuality education is a mandatory subject in school curricula; adequate teacher training and support; developing evidence-based online comprehensive sexuality education; engaging communities and parents; and allocating sufficient resources.
4. Ensure that comprehensive sexuality education curricula are non-discriminatory, non-biased, and based on scientific evidence and human rights. They should be inclusive and accessible to all individuals, especially to the most marginalized, including adolescent girls, LGBTIQ+ youth, out-of-school adolescents and young people living with disabilities. States should ensure that comprehensive sexuality education starts early in childhood, in a manner consistent with the evolving capacities of the child, and that it progresses through adolescence and adulthood.
5. Guarantee that comprehensive sexuality education curricula include a breadth of topics beyond a focus on risks and disease, with special attention given to respect, consent, autonomy, relationships, sexuality, gender equality and sexual and gender diversity, pleasure, responsible parenthood, dismantling patriarchal gender stereotypes and harmful social norms, and preventing early pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, sexual and gender-based violence and discrimination.
6. Eliminate the stigma often ascribed to sexual and reproductive health issues, which are typically treated as taboo topics and enforced through socio-cultural norms, and the growing problem of misinformation.
7. Ensure that all adolescents and young people have access to free, confidential, and non-discriminatory sexual and reproductive health services, information and education responsive to their needs, available both online and in person, and in multiple forms and languages, which include family planning, contraception, including emergency contraception, prevention, care and treatment of sexually transmitted infections, counselling, pre-conception care, gender-affirming care, maternal health services, access to safe abortion and postabortion services and menstrual hygiene. Gaining knowledge about their reproductive system helps girls and women become more self-confident and adopt improved health measures. States should also remove barriers such as requirements for third-party consent or authorization and regulate conscientious objection to ensure that all people needing an abortion can have access to it."
The UN experts included the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, the Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, the Special Rapporteur on the right to education and the Working Group on discrimination against women and girls.
Related media
Report on the experience of male survivors of sexual violence
The report, Male survivors of sexual violence and abuse (SVA): Barriers and facilitators to reporting and accessing services (2023), summarises findings from research about the experiences of male survivors of sexual violence in reporting and accessing help. The research involved interviews with 52 male survivors including survivors who had experienced SVA in childhood and adulthood, and perpetrated by familial and non-familial individuals. As marginalised groups of men are over-represented in male survivor statistics, the researchers set out to include a diverse range of male survivors. The research also includes findings from an online survey of 13 service providers.
The report includes a brief review of the literature, highlighting the increasing amount of international statistics and research that has demonstrated a significant number of men experience SVA across the lifespan, leading to difficulties for men, their families, and communities.
The research provides an overview about the help seeking journey for male survivors in relation to disclosing, reporting and accessing services. For the research, disclosure was defined as telling someone who cannot initiate a formal process in response to the SVA and reporting was defined as telling professionals working in entities that could provide a formal action, such as police, ACC, teachers or the Royal Commission.
Key findings about the help seeking journey include:
- 90.4% disclosed, 65.4% reported and 92% accessed a service for support
- 73.1% of survivors disclosed as the first step in helpseeking
- the average time to report was 18 years with only 31.3% reporting in the first 3 years
- of survivors who reported to a service, 81.3% reported to ACC and 43.8% reported to police and doctors
- only 16.7% accessed support within the first 5 years
- of survivors who accessed support, 54.2% accessed ACC registered therapists; 54.2% accessed non-specialist counsellors, psychologists and psychiatrists; and 47.9% accessed intentional peer support
- of survivors who accessed a support service, 83.3% accessed a specialist service
- it was common to take a long time for survivors to feel ready to report or access support.
When considering these findings, the authors note that “…not all men disclosed or wanted to disclose, and some of the survivors noted that it is important that pressure is not placed on survivors to disclose or report before they feel ready to do so.”
Drawing on the interviews with survivors, the researchers identified 5 key themes related to barriers and facilitators to help seeking:
- Theme 1: Gendered social norms and myths are a barrier for helpseeking
- Theme 2: The presence and quality of formal and informal social support impacts helpseeking
- Theme 3: The complex nature of trauma hinders timely helpseeking
- Theme 4: Service provision, visibility and design need to be tailored to male survivors to facilitate access
- Theme 5: Quality support from service workers can build agency and maintain male survivors’ helpseeking.
For each key theme, the researchers discuss findings for practice, policy and services. For the first theme, they highlighted how dominant constructs of masculinity and 'what it means to be man' affected male survivors' experiences. They wrote:
"Indeed, the male survivors put forward the solution of gender-inclusive societal education to change prescriptive norms about masculinity and what SVA and its consequences are. They also signalled the need to provide male survivors with clear ‘how to’ guides to promote know-how about talking to others, reporting, and accessing services for SVA. This theme also showed that male survivors are a diverse group and therefore any education campaigns need to recognise this diversity and embrace a gender-responsive approach to addressing the issue."
In theme 2, exploring impacts of social support the researchers note that informal and formal social support needs to be increased to support men with disclosure and help seeking. However, the social support must be compassionate and engaged to be effective.
Under theme 3, the researches noted that the help seeking journey for many survivors spanned many decades and without intervention or support during this time, survivors experienced the 'long tail of trauma and harm'. The researchers highlight the need for early intervention:
"...a need for a range of specialist and non-specialist service workers to have a gender-inclusive understanding of SVA and be able to provide gender-responsive care, including learning about appropriate ways to invite disclosure from male survivors and routine screening for SVA."
In theme 4, they noted that survivors shared that they were not always comfortable at mainstream SVA services which were focused primarily on serving women or cisgender heterosexual people. It highlights the need for more specialist services to meet the needs of diversity among male survivors, noting that "...survivors preferred to work with people with whom they shared a connection or key demographics, and who they felt could understand their position."
In theme 5, it was clear that compassionate and understanding responses from service providers was essential for male survivors in their help seeking journey. The researchers recommended:
"Specialist and non-specialist service workers who welcomed, listened, affirmed, and validated the survivors’ experience and could cope with disclosure, built trust and furthered engagement with services. As nonspecialist service workers were often described as not engaging with survivors in this way, there is a need to adequately train all service workers who are likely to come into contact with male survivors, in addition to providing men with specialist support throughout the reporting and court process."
Within each theme, several subthemes were also identified. Below we’ve reprinted the themes and subthemes. See table 4.1 in the report for further detail.
"1. Gendered social norms and myths are a barrier for helpseeking
1.1. Gender stereotypes are a barrier to helpseeking
1.2. Gendered myths about the outcomes of sexual victimisation are a barrier to helpseeking
1.3. Gender-inclusive public education can raise awareness and facilitate helpseeking
2. The presence and quality of formal and informal social support impacts helpseeking
2.1. A lack of informal social support reduces recognition of victimisation and hinders helpseeking
2.2 Informal and formal social support with trusted others facilitates helpseeking
2.3. It’s good to talk to caring and compassionate listeners
2.4. Insensitive responses to informal disclosures or reporting are a barrier to helpseeking
3. The complex nature of trauma hinders timely helpseeking
3.1. The complexity of trauma masked its cause and hindered access to support services
3.2. Coercion and control are a barrier to helpseeking
3.3. Recovery and helpseeking are slow and ongoing processes
4. Service provision, visibility and design need to be tailored to male survivors to facilitate access
4.1. Insufficient and unaffordable specialist service provision are barriers to accessing support services and healing
4.2. The visibility of services impacts how easily male survivors can access them
4.3. A choice of services designed to meet the complex needs of male survivors facilitates access
5. Quality support from service workers can build agency and maintain male survivors’ helpseeking
5.1. Attentive expert support is crucial throughout the reporting process
5.2. Helpseeking is facilitated by service workers who understand the trauma of male survivors
5.3. Building agency facilitates effective helpseeking."
The researchers found that the views of service providers endorsed the themes identified by survivors. Service providers also raised the following points:
- optimism that there has been a recent increase in public awareness about men’s sexual victimisation
- providers should use sensitive but direct questions to invite disclosure and promote early intervention
- funding is required to increase bespoke and appropriate services for male survivors
- services and providers that meet the needs of all genders and who are trained to work with diverse populations can provide opportunities to meet male survivors needs
- the need for a range of quick and easy ways to access services (e.g. – video call, telephone, face-to-face).
The report concludes with a discussion of 5 key recommendations:
- Gender-inclusive societal education initiatives
- Gender-inclusive training of service workers
- Initiatives to increase social support for male survivors
- Bespoke and accessible service provision
- Design of trauma-informed services and activities.
The authors wrap up the report noting that the barriers to disclosing, reporting and help seeking mean it will be difficult for research to determine accurate prevalence rates among male survivors. Instead they write:
"...there is a need to move beyond relying on the data in official reports to determine provision of resources for SVA and accept that surveys and reports will continue to underestimate victimisation rates, especially for male survivors. We propose it is better to simply consider that SVA is a problem for men and move toward understanding and responding to that problem without reliance on reporting rates."
The research was completed by a team from Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington, the University of Otago, and the Donald Beasley Institute. The authors are Louise Dixon, Gareth Treharne, Michaela Pettie, Chris Bowden, Tess Patterson, Melanie Beres, Brigit Mirfin-Veitch, Rachel Shaw, Angela Eketone-Kelly and Jacob Ashdown. The Ministry of Social Development commissioned the research to help support the design of services for male survivors and future research.
Recent related research
In November 2022, Male Survivors Aotearoa published the report, Living or merely existing? The experiences of male survivors of historical sexual abuse in Aotearoa/New Zealand. The report summarises findings from an online survey of 46 male survivors of sexual abuse about their experiences including disclosure and seeking help.
Te Rōpū Tautoko Male Survivors Aotearoa commissioned a review of literature focused on a kaupapa Māori approach to the support of Māori male survivors of abuse. Te Rōpū Tautoko is a subcommittee of the Male Survivors Aotearoa Board.
Recently published research from the Dunedin Study identified that people who had unwanted sexual contact before the age of 16, had a higher risk of experiencing adverse outcomes in adulthood including smoking and alcohol consumption, systemic inflammation, oral health, mental health, sexually transmitted diseases, personal relationships, finances, and antisocial behaviour. The researchers also found that "Survivors were also between 2.5 and 4 times more likely than their peers to have attempted suicide in their lifetime, with the highest risk among those who experienced more severe abuse."
Find more research and reports on male victim/survivors by searching the topic keyword abused men.
Related news
The last day for survivors to register to have their accounts heard by the Abuse in Care Royal Commission is 21 March 2023. The Royal Commission will be ending in June 2023. See their pānui for more details.
Related media
Police acknowledge sentencing: Liam Nixon case, Police media release, 06.12.2023
First torture, now solitary - NZ’s shame, Newsroom, 08.03.2023
Courageous kōrero is the first step to overcoming intergenerational trauma, The Spinoff, 06.03.2023
Disabled gang members, abused by state, found welcoming whānau in life of crime, Stuff, 26.02.2023
Regulations for Tenancies Act changes that support victim/survivors
The Residential Tenancies Amendment Act (RTAA) 2020 includes changes that allow victims of family violence to end a tenancy early. This change came into effect on 11 August 2021.
Regulations to support this law change took effect on 29 December 2022. The regulations provide guidance for tenants and landlords on how to use the law.
The law allows a tenant who experiences family violence during their tenancy to withdraw from the tenancy by giving the landlord at least 2 days’ written notice without financial penalty or the need for agreement from the landlord.
Victim/survivors need to provide a withdrawal notice and evidence of family violence to the landlord. The regulations set out what information victim/survivors need to include in the withdrawal notice, what can be used as evidence of family violence, how to provide the information and what to do if there other tenants.
TenancyServices has information on their website about withdrawing from a tenancy following family violence. This includes forms and templates for withdrawal notice and evidence of family violence.
Background
You can read the full text of the Residential Tenancies (Termination for Physical Assault by Tenant and Withdrawal Following Family Violence) Regulations 2022.
For more information about these changes, see the TenancyServices information on Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2020 changes and the Ministry of Social Development information on Changes to the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 to protect victims/survivors of family violence (2020).
Related media
We are delighted to announce that we have employed Dr Kim McBreen (Waitaha, Kāti Māmoe, Ngāi Tahu) as our Kaupapa Māori research Lead at the NZFVC. This is a new position dedicated to raising the visibility of mātauranga Māori and tikanga in the work of the Clearinghouse.
Kim comes to the Clearinghouse from Te Wānanga o Raukawa, where she was a kaimahi with Te Whare Whakatupu Mātauranga and contributed to the Ahunga Tikanga programme. She will continue to be based in Ōtaki. She is a previous Fulbright Scholar, which enabled her to talk with organisers here and in the US about their experiences of ending relationship violence without the state and other systems of violence. An output from that work is Te Wānanga o Raukawa’s He Ara Mataora website.
“I’m really looking forward to learning from the team at the Clearinghouse and showcasing the work with tikanga and mātauranga to support whānau wellbeing and end violence”. - Dr Kim McBreen
This new role is part of wider changes at the Clearinghouse, reflecting our responsibilities under Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
In 2021 the Clearinghouse appointed two new Academic Co-Directors, Dr Terry Dobbs as Academic Co-Director Māori and Professor Nicola Gavey as Academic Co-Director Tauiwi. We also established two new advisory groups (Tauiwi and Tangata Whenua) to support our work.
The Clearinghouse vision is of families, whānau and relationships that are healthy, respectful and free from violence. We are continuing to explore how we can support Tangata Whenua as well as Tangata Tiriti in our work to support healthy and violence free lives.
Kim can be contacted at kim.mcbreen@auckland.ac.nz
For a full list our NZFVC team and Advisory groups see our website.
Related News
We are also excited to welcome Oanh Le to the role of project support coordinator for NZFVC. Oanh will be working with us part time while she completes her degrees in Law and Arts at the University of Auckland, majoring in Criminology and Politics/International Relations. Her passions lie in legal reform, criminal justice and working to help the most vulnerable groups in society through shaping policy.
“I am beyond excited to be a part of such a meaningful organization whose vision of a violence-free Aotearoa I wholeheartedly subscribe to, and cannot wait to see what the year ahead has in store for NZFVC!” - Oanh Le
Consultation on health strategies
Update: Manatū Hauora | the Ministry of Health published the Government’s Pae Ora, Healthy Futures Strategies in July 2023.
Manatū Hauora | Ministry of Health in partnership with Te Aka Whai Ora | Māori Health Authority and Te Whatu Ora | Te Whatu Ora is developing a series of health strategies.
There will be six health strategies in total – a Workforce Strategy and five population-specific strategies:
- Hauora Māori Strategy
- Pacific Health Strategy
- Health of Disabled People Strategy
- Women’s Health Strategy
- Rural Health Strategy.
The Women’s Health Strategy, Rural Health Strategy and Health Workforce Strategy are new strategies for Aotearoa New Zealand. The Hauora Māori Strategy, Pacific Health Strategy and Health of Disabled People Strategy will be informed by existing strategies and action plans.
Manatū Hauora described the purpose of the health strategies:
"The strategies will set the direction across the health system and will inform decision-making and priority setting by Government and the health system.
The purpose of the strategies is to provide the roadmap for change – they won’t commit us to particular actions needed to get there. This will be the role of the New Zealand Health Plan and the next Government Policy Statement."
The strategies are currently being developed. There are different ways to give feedback and participate in the development.
Currently submissions are open on the Health of Disabled People Strategy and the Women’s Health Strategy.
The closing date for both of these submissions is 17 March 2023.
For submissions on the Health of Disabled People Strategy, there are specific Questions for engagement and submissions.
For submissions on the Women's Health Strategy, there are no specific feedback questions, but there are suggested topics that include wellbeing, wellbeing needs, patterns and trends, the health system’s performance for women, priorities for system change and health workforce.
For information on development of the other strategies see the following:
This is part of the government's work to develop a new health system. Manatū Hauora has set up, Tātou, an online discussion platform for people to participate in this process. You can visit Tātou anytime you like, as many times as you like, to have your say. For more information see Contributing to the mahi or contact strategies@health.govt.nz.
Update: The Backbone Collective has published their submission to the consultation, Submission on Women’s Health Strategy from The Backbone Collective (March 2023).
Related news
Newly published research has found that women in Aotearoa who have experienced intimate partner violence are almost 3 times as likely to have a diagnosed mental health condition and almost twice as likely to have a chronic illness, compared with those who have not experienced intimate partner violence. For more information see the article Association between women’s exposure to intimate partner violence and self-reported health outcomes in New Zealand (2023).
Related media
What does the government’s new women’s health strategy actually offer?, The Spinoff, 17.07.2023
Study looks at impact of child abuse, Otago Daily Times, 15.03.2023
Family violence puts women at greater risk of suffering health issues - research, RNZ, 04.03.2023
Fresh look at hauora Māori strategy, Waatea News, 03.02.2023
Consultation on decision-making capacity law
The Minister of Justice asked Te Aka Matua o te Ture | the Law Commission to review the law related to adult decision-making capacity. The Law Commission is asking for feedback on how the law should respond when an adult's ability to make decisions is affected.
The closing date to submit feedback is 3 March 2022.
An adult's decision-making could be affected by dementia, acquired brain injuries, learning disabilities and experiences of mental distress. The Law Commission notes that
"If an adult’s decision-making is affected, the law may treat their decisions differently. This is based on a concept of ‘decision-making capacity’. If a person is assessed not to have ‘decision-making capacity’, their decision might not have legal effect. Another person might be appointed to make the decision for them."
Some of the things that the Law Commission is asking for feedback on include:
- supported decision-making
- advance directives
- enduring powers of attorney
- welfare guardians
- safeguards and accountability mechanisms.
In the Terms of Reference, the Law Commission states they are looking at whether Aotearoa New Zealand law and practice strike an appropriate balance between:
"● enabling people to make decisions about their own lives (including with appropriate support from whānau, family, carers and caregivers, other professionals or the wider community); and
● safeguarding people from harm."
The Law Commission has published a Preliminary Issues Paper which includes background and questions. In the issues paper the Law Commission outlines 7 principles for the review. One of these principles is "Keep people safe from abuse and neglect and promote accountability." In discussing this principle, the Law Commission identifies that people with affected decision-making can be vulnerable to abuse and neglect. This includes older people and disabled people. Chapter 8 of the issues paper looks at safeguards and accountability and asks questions related to elder abuse.
When a person’s ability to make decisions is affected, they may be at risk or vulnerable to abuse, violence and neglect. Abusers' use of decision-making powers to coerce or a control a person can be understood as forms of elder abuse, family and/or intimate partner violence. See further information in the background below.
The Terms of Reference also outline the scope, or what the review will include:
- "Ao Māori perspectives on decision-making capacity and its regulation, including how the law should address any matters of particular concern to tāngata whaikaha Māori, their whānau, hapū and iwi, and Māori more generally.
- How the law should recognise and provide for te Tiriti o Waitangi | the Treaty of Waitangi.
- How the law should protect and promote human rights, including consideration of:
- Aotearoa New Zealand’s international human rights commitments, particularly under the Disability Convention and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples; and
- Domestic human rights laws, particularly the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 and Human Rights Act 1993.
- The language used in our law.
- How to assess a person’s ability to make decisions about exercising legal rights and duties.
- How the law should facilitate and regulate the provision of support to people who require support to be able to exercise legal capacity on an equal basis.
- How the law should recognise the role of whānau, hapū and iwi, family, carers and caregivers, and the wider community in the provision of such support.
- How the law should regulate the exercise of legal capacity in rare circumstances where decisions may need to be made on behalf of a person.
- What safeguards the law should provide around measures relating to the exercise of legal capacity.
- How the law should regulate situations where people, whose ability to make decisions may be limited, are deprived of their liberty (other than in the context of criminal proceedings)."
The review will consider the following legislation:
- Protection of Personal and Property Rights Act 1988
- Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992
- Substance Addiction (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 2017
- Health and Disability Commissioner Act 1994 and the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights established under that Act
There are many ways to have your say. You can complete an online form, fill in a form in Word, email, text or write by post. See the website for more details.
This is the first public consultation. The Law Commission plans to run a second public consultation this year. This will include a longer consultation document that will address the current law in more detail and propose options for reform. After the second consultation, the Law Commission will provide a final report with recommendations to the Government. The Law Commission expects to submit the final report to the Minister of Justice by 30 June 2024.
Update:
Some organisations have made their submissions public including the Disabled Persons Assembly NZ and the Family Violence Death Review Committee.
Update:
The Law Commission open consultation on a Second Issues Paper 52. This paper looks at the current law in much more detail and suggests possible options for reform. Find more information on the Review of Adult Decision-Making Capacity Law | Ngā Huarahi Whakatau.
Background
The Community Law Manual provides an overview about the law when other people can legally make decisions for you in Aotearora New Zealand. See more information from Firstport about support decision making.
The report, Diversity, dignity, equity and best practice: a framework for supported decision-making (2023), looked at supported decision-making for people with cognitive disabilities in Australia. The report summarises findings from a literature review, online survey of research and practice networks, and focus groups and interviews with people with cognitive disabilities, family members, representative groups, policy makers and advocates. The report outlines the benefits of supported decision-making, sets out nine principles and eight essential elements of a ‘Diversity, Dignity, Equity and Best Practice Framework for Supported Decision-making’ and recommends implementation strategies. It was funded by the Australian Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability. The report is available in an easy read format and a video with sign language interpretation.
Article 12 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities addresses the rights of persons with disabilities to legal capacity or decision-making including the right to support and safeguards to prevent abuse. General Comment No. 1 from the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities provides further detail on Article 12 of the Convention.
The Office for Disability Issues | Te Tarī Mō Ngā Take Hauātanga gives an overview of the previous work done to improve disabled people's exercise of legal capacity and the move from substitute decision-making to supported decision making.
The report, Women, disability and violence: barriers to accessing justice (2018), discusses how denial of and problematic assumptions about legal capacity for disabled people increases risks for violence and impacts ability of victim/survivors to report and get legal assistance. For more information see the following:
- Not inherently vulnerable : an examination of paradigms, attitudes and systems that enable the abuse of dis/abled women (2017) by Debbie Hager
- Gendered denials: Vulnerability created by barriers to legal capacity for women and disabled women (2019) by Anna Arstein-Kerslake
Article 15 of the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women addresses women's right to equal legal capacity. For more information see the book Legal Capacity & Gender: Realising the Human Right to Legal Personhood and Agency of Women, Disabled Women, and Gender Minorities (2021).
The UN Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons identifies the limitation or denial of the right to legal capacity as a deprivation of liberty in her Report on older persons deprived of their liberty (2022). She also highlights the duty of States to establish safeguards to ensure informed consent for older persons. The General recommendation No. 27 on older women and protection of their human rights from the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women highlights that "Older women are particularly vulnerable to exploitation and abuse, including economic abuse, when their legal capacity is deferred to lawyers or family members, without their consent." The Recommendation also calls on States to "...ensure that older women are not deprived of their legal capacity on arbitrary or discriminatory grounds."
The report Elder Abuse in Aotearoa: The role and current state of MSD’s Elder Abuse Response Services (2019) identifies elder abuse risks from Enduring Power of Attorney.
For more information see the following:
- The role of financial planners in preventing, recognising and responding to elder financial abuse (2021) by Tina Cockburn, Kelly Purser, Sherrena Buckby and Kirsty Paynter [Australia]
- Examining access to formal justice mechanisms for vulnerable older people in the context of enduring powers of attorney (2020) by Kelly Purser, Tina Cockburn, and Elizabeth Ulrick [Australia]
- The Human Rights of Older Persons: A Human Rights-Based Approach to Elder Law (2020) by Lewis Bridget, Kelly Purser and Kirsty Mackie.
Update: Also see Enabling Disabled People to Live Good Lives: Embedding supported decision-making into disability law in Aotearoa, New Zealand by Frankie Karetai Wood-Bodley.
Update: The Family Violence Death Review Committee (FVDRC) published a position paper in August 2023 on Responding to adults at risk who need care and support and who are experiencing family violence. It gives an overview of the issues associated with (mis)identifying adults at risk who need care and support and who are experiencing family violence. It highlights the need to look carefully at situations where the capacity, capability and wellbeing of both the carer and the adult at risk are in question.
Also see the book chapter Who do we turn to? Safeguarding residents in aged care settings from abuse and neglect in New Zealand by Kate Diesfeld published in September 2023.
Related news
The UN Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons is calling for inputs on violence, abuse and neglect of older persons to inform a report. Inputs are due by 1 March 2023.
Manatū Wāhine | Ministry for Women is inviting feedback on New Zealand's draft 9th report on progress related to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). Feedback is due by 24 March 2023.
Related media
Kiwis treated under compulsory care laws hits record high, Newsroom, 13.10.2023
UN expert calls for ‘new philosophy’ to better serve persons with disabilities, UN News, 13.03.2023
Review of adult decision-making capacity law is 'long overdue', Stuff, 17.12.2022
Disability advocates concerned over rise in guardianship applications, Newsroom, 05.07.2022
Consultation on draft CEDAW report
Manatū Wāhine | Ministry for Women in collaboration with other government agencies has drafted the 9th periodic report on New Zealand's implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). The Ministry is inviting public feedback on the draft report.
The closing date to give feedback is 24 March 2023.
The Ministry noted that this version of the 9th periodic draft report was approved for release by Cabinet. Since this version was approved, some details in the draft report have progressed further. The Ministry has shared a document that outlines those changes.
The draft report includes a section on gender-based violence against women. However, many sections throughout the report are related to and reference violence against women.
The report specifically responds to the list of issues from the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women. The Committee's list asks questions about outcomes for women in Aotearoa New Zealand and progress on the Committee's previous concluding observations (CEDAW/C/NZL/CO/8) on New Zealand's 8th CEDAW report. See our news story that highlighted the UN Committee's previous concluding comments related to violence against women and the UN Committee's further recommendations on the 2021 interim report.
You can make a submission on the draft report to the Ministry by:
- completing an online survey
- completing a downloadable form
- Emailing your feedback to info@women.govt.nz
- Posting your feedback to Level 9, Qual IT House, 22 The Terrace, PO Box 10 049, Wellington, New Zealand.
After this public consultation, the Government will submit the final report to the UN Committee in July 2023. The Ministry has noted that the UN review of the final report has not yet been scheduled, but generally takes place 1-2 years after submission of the report.
Update: The Government has submitted the 9th periodic report on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. You can read the final report on the Manatū Wāhine Ministry for Women website.
Background information
CEDAW is the primary international human rights treaty for women’s rights. The New Zealand government is required to report to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women every four years on New Zealand's progress in implementing CEDAW. The last reporting cycle was completed in 2018.
Non-government organisations may also submit alternative reports to the UN Committee, known as shadow reports.
For more information see CEDAW monitoring and previous CEDAW reports from the Ministry for Women.
Related news
The 67th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is happening in March 2023. It is the main international forum dedicated to gender equality and women's empowerment. The priority theme for the 67th session is "Innovation and technological change, and education in the digital age for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls." The Bureau of the Commission has released the Zero Draft of the CSW67 Agreed Conclusions that will be discussed and agreed at the CSW. Many of these relate to violence against women. In the recommended actions for governments, it specifically identifies "Preventing and eliminating technology-facilitated gender-based violence and protecting the rights of women and girls online" (see pages 15-16 of the Zero draft agreed conclusions). New Zealand will be sending a delegation in person to attend the CSW and feedback is welcome from civil society members. For more information contact caucus@women.govt.nz. Norie Ape has been selected as the NGO delegate for the NZ Government delegation.
UN Women has announced that the theme for the 2023 International Women's Day is “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality” to align with the 67th session of the CSW.
The UN Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons is calling for inputs on violence, abuse and neglect of older persons to inform a report. Inputs are due by 1 March 2023.
In October 2022, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women issued General Recommendation No. 39 calling on states to better protect the human rights of Indigenous women and girls, including addressing gender-based violence.
No results found.
Please try different keywords or filter options.
Subscribe to our Pānui and our News and Events mailing lists
Never miss an update! Receive the latest news and event information directly to your inbox.