Vine Quick Reads: 7 August 2026

Vine Quick Reads: 7 August 2026

Welcome to our Quick Reads format. Each week we share selected news bites relevant to family violence and sexual violence in Aotearoa.

New research on wāhine from gang whānau healing intergenerational trauma

Te Whāriki Manawāhine o Hauraki has published Tīhei Wāhine Ora: Wāhine from Gang Whānau Healing Intergenerational Trauma (2026). Author Paora Moyle documents what wāhine Māori connected to gang whānau know about healing, leadership, and securing different futures for their mokopuna. The book draws on interviews and focus groups with 20 wāhine across Aotearoa and Australia, conducted over two years. For an overview, see Pouhine.

New report on workplace violence in community-based care

The AUT Social Transformation Research Institute has published Workplace Violence in Community Based Care and Support Services (2026). The report surveyed support workers and managers across home, community, mental health, addiction, and disability support and their experiences of violence while at work. For an overview, see the author’s piece in The Conversation, Workplace violence is a fact of life for many care workers – why do we tolerate it?.

New report on government investment to understand and address family and sexual violence (FVSV)

The Executive Board for the Elimination of Family Violence and Sexual Violence has published Understanding Government Investment to Address Family Violence and Sexual Violence (2026). This review of government direct spending on FVSV responds to gaps in visibility of system-wide investment: how much, in what, for whom, and where. It forms part of the delivery of the Investing and Commissioning Well priority in Te Aorerekura Action Plan (2025-2030).

New report on strengthening the stopping violence system

The Executive Board for the Elimination of Family Violence and Sexual Violence has published Strengthening the Stopping Violence System (2026). This report provides an evidence-based review of government-funded, community-based interventions for people who use violence and identifies opportunities to strengthen the system. It forms part of the delivery of the Stopping Violence priority in Te Aorerekura Action Plan (2025-2030).

Consultation open on Crimes (Virginity Testing Practices) Amendment Bill

The Governance and Administration Select Committee is calling for submissions on the Crimes (Virginity Testing Practices) Amendment Bill. This bill would amend the Crime Act 1961 to create new offences relating to virginity testing and the related practice of hymenoplasty. To read the bill in full and to make a submission, see the link above.

Submission deadline: Wednesday 9 September 2026.

Changes to Family Court Rules

Two changes to the Family Court rules came into effect on 3 August 2026:

1. A new process now applies when a without notice family violence application is directed by the Court to proceed on notice. The change is intended to ensure that applicants have an opportunity to confirm whether they still wish to continue with the application before it is served on the other party.
2. Parties can now also provide additional contact methods as part of their address for service including email or a fax number.

Waitangi Tribunal release report on Treaty principles reform

The Waitangi Tribunal has released the following report in pre-publication format: Te Tinihanga o Ngā Mātāpono: The Urgent Report on The Treaty Principles Reform (2026). The report addresses the Crown’s proposals to amend Treaty/Tiriti provisions across 18 pieces of legislation. For an overview, see the Tribunal’s media release. See also RNZ’s coverage, Tribunal finds Treaty reforms breach Te Tiriti principles, prejudice Māori, damage Māori-Crown relationship, and Te Kāhui Tiki Tangata’s press release and submission.

Early insights report published on Australia’s under 16 social media ban

The eSafety Commissioner has published Early days, early insights: Understanding experiences of social media age restrictions at the three-month follow-up (2026). The report explores how children and their parents have experienced Australia’s under-16 social media ban. It draws on baseline data collected before the age restriction and data from a three-month follow-up survey. Alongside the full report, the link above also contains a video recap of the report’s findings.