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Research and resources for tamariki healthy relationships
The Harmonised Healthy Relationship Project was initiated as part of a response to tamariki Māori requesting better accessible information about intimate partner relationship well-being. The Harmonised project was led by Auckland University of Technology in partnership with the University of Otago and John Hopkins University, with funding from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
Working with a Tamariki Advisory Group (TAG) and pupils from schools and Kura across the motu, the project identified:
- tamariki definitions of an ‘intimate partner relationship’ as opposed to adult developed definitions of tamariki ‘relationships’
- tamariki definitions of what constitutes healthy and unhealthy intimate partner relationships in their own context by using an Indigenous well-being framework -Te Whare Tapa Whā (Durie, 1985) and
- explored how tamariki make decisions within their intimate partner relationships.
The research team spent 4 years talking and working with tamariki from all over Aotearoa about what is needed to support tamariki to have healthy and safe intimate partner relationships.
The team used a co-create approach involving tamariki in identifying both needs and solutions, including concepts and language, as well as creating an App and resources, also using a Māori centred approach.
The team heard from tamariki that they understand what a healthy relationship is, but sometimes it can be complicated and sometimes they don’t always know what to do. The team heard that whānau were important to tamariki within these relationships. Tamariki wanted good information and for people to listen and take their relationships seriously.
The project involved an App, called Harmonised, developed by the Tamariki Advisory Group and the tamariki focus groups. The App was only available as a pilot during the research. However, the team worked with tamariki and created resources for tamariki/rangatahi in intimate partner relationships or those thinking about what they would like in a healthy intimate partner relationship.
The resources include:
- What taitamariki value in a relationship in English and Te Reo Māori
- Taitamariki healthy relationship continuum
- Whare tapa whā as a model for healthy relationships
- How to start a conversation about your relationship with someone when you don’t know what to say
- Tips when you are worried about a friend and not sure what to say
- A brief list of who to contact when you need someone to talk to.
Background
Two of the Harmonised team members, Dr Moana Eruera and Dr Terry Dobbs, previously researched taitamariki* perspectives on intimate partner relationships. Korero mai: taitamariki Maori development of healthy relationships was funded by the Health Research Council of NZ and hosted by Te Runanga-Ā-Iwi-O-Ngāpuhi. For more information see a 2-page summary from this research about what taitamariki shared with the researchers.
A second research project, Taitamariki Māori kōrero about intimate partner relationships was funded by ACC and hosted by the Amokura Family Violence Prevention Consortium. For more information see the report from this research Taitamariki Māori kōrero about intimate partner relationships (2010).
To learn more about supporting tamariki and youth to have healthy intimate partner relationships also see:
- Building Taitamariki Māori Capacity: Reclaiming and applying Te Ao Māori principles to inform and support their intimate partner relationship well-being (2021) PhD thesis by Terry Dobbs
- Hooked Up – Te Honononga Whaiaipo: Reducing and preventing violence in taitamariki Māori intimate partner relationships (2015) PhD Dissertation by Moana Eruera
- Kaupapa Māori wellbeing framework: the basis for whānau violence prevention and intervention (2014) by Terry Dobbs and Moana Eruera, New Zealand Family Violence Clearinghouse Issues Paper #6.
*Taitamariki is used to denote Ngāpuhi dialect and participants in these two studies.
Related news
The Office of the Children’s Commissioner (OCC) and the Ministry of Education (MoE) are calling for nominations of young people to have a say in the curriculum refresh. OCC and MoE are setting up 3 Youth Voices Groups to ensure young people's voices are heard during the curriculum refresh. The 3 Youth Voices Groups are Youth Voices, Rangatahi Māori Voices and Disabled Youth Voices with a focus on involving a diverse range of young people, including those who identify as part of the Rainbow community, and/or are care experienced, as well as young people living in rural communities, and/or young people with informal and non-formal education experience. Nominations are requested of young people from organisations, iwi, schools and other agencies who hold a trusting and sustained relationship with the young person they are nominating and who are prepared to support the young person throughout their involvement. Nominations can be submitted through the OCC website. For questions email educationvoices@occ.org.nz. Nominations are due by 16 October 2022.
Related media
Mental health resources for young people and schools launched, Beehive media release, 28.09.2022
Pasifika leaders on a mission to normalise talanoa about sexual health, Tagata Pasifika, 19.08.2022
Rangatahi panel makes sex-ed laughing matter, Waatea News, 26.07.2022
App supports healthy relationships for teens, Otago Daily Times, 26.06.2018
Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori 2022
Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori 2022 celebrates 50 years since the Māori Language Petition was presented to parliament on 14 September 1972. The 14th September became Māori Language Day and later Māori Language Week. This year also marks 35 years since te reo Māori became an official language and the launch of the Māori Language Commission in 1987 through the Māori Language Act.
In the lead up to Te wiki o te reo Māori, Māori Language Commissioner, Professor Rawinia Higgins said
"For Māori New Zealanders, te reo is not just a language to revitalise, it is part of our identity. Those of us who want to ensure the language of our ancestors is also the language of our mokopuna are not just woke, we are wide awake and we always have been."
Commissioner Higgins also said:
“More New Zealanders than ever before see te reo as part of their identity as a New Zealander and that speaking te reo is something to be proud of. 35-years ago when te reo became an official language of New Zealand, many feared that te reo would divide us. But in 2022 te reo brings us together. It is the language of Aotearoa and everyone who calls Aotearoa home.”
The 50th anniversary of the Māori language petition was commemorated at Parliament this year.
Waka Huia (episode 17, season 2022) released a documentary that celebrates te reo Māori through the lens of the Māori Language Commission. The episode highlights the journey of Te Reo revitalisation. The video is available from Waka Huia's Facebook page and YouTube in te reo Māori with English captions:
Once again, Waiata Anthems week took place the week before on 5 - 11 September 2022 with 20 new waiata released. Co-founder, Dame Hinewehi Mohi said this year’s recordings build on the legacy of the 1972 Māori Language Petition.
Sharing stories of te reo Māori
Te Taura Whiri i Te Reo Māori | Māori Language Commission has launched a campaign calling for New Zealanders to share their stories of te reo Māori. The Commission created a new website where you can read and share stories at www.storiesoftereo.nz. The Commission has tips on how to capture your stories for individuals and whānau and organisations including toolkete for Kaupapa Māori organisations, public service, Kura, Māori, Kōhanga Reo, schools and more.
Commissioner Higgins highlighted how sharing these stories can help heal the mamae saying:
“We don’t want to lose that memory. We don’t want the memories to just be of the officials like myself in these different roles telling that story. We know everyone has a story in their whānau and how do we share those stories with each other to inspire but also hopefully to heal the mamae and also think about what our future could be."
E Tū Whānau recently highlighted the mahi of Te Tai Tokerau community worker and E Tū Whānau kaupapa advocate Shirleyanne Brown. Shirleyanne worked with local film maker, Tema Kwan, on Takiwā Kōrero, an innovative online talk show series fronted by leaders of marae within Te Rūnanga a Iwi Ō Ngāpuhi Takiwā ki Whangārei. The videos encourage whānau to engage with their marae and shape the future of their tūrangawaewae. There are three videos on Economic Stability of marae, Tupuna practices and stories of Succession, Growth and Prosperity in the Marae.
Te Pūtahitanga o Te Waipounamu, the Whānau Ora commissioning agency for Te Waipounamu (the South Island), shared the story of Te Kai a Te Rangatira, a kaupapa Māori initiative supporting Rakiura Māori to reconnect with their identity, culture and language, and the mahi of Pip Hakopa (Ngāti Mamoe, Waikato-Tainui, Ngāti Kahungnunu, Ngāti Tūwharetoa) in this initiative.
Awanui Te Huia has written a new book, He Reo Tuku Iho: Tangata Whenua and Te Reo Māori (2022), which explores the lived experiences of tangata whenua and ways that tangata whenua can reclaim te reo. The book draws on the national research project Manawa Ū ki te Reo Māori which looked at the motivations and barriers that Māori whānau face to Māori language acquisition and use of Māori heritage language by learners and speakers. Discussing the book, Awanui Te Huia wrote:
"Many tangata whenua who are learning our ancestral language are doing so while managing a myriad of complex emotions and also juggling life as Māori in the colonial context. For Māori who have a whakapapa connection to te reo, our path towards language reclamation is part of a wider set of connections and transformations that we’re often engaging in to unpack what it means to be learning our own mother tongue as a second language. The “mother tongue”, refers to the language spoken by mother to child. We know that colonisation has impacted on this very intimate relationship, with most Māori learning (as a second language) in formal settings that are far from intimate."
Research and resources on connecting to re reo Māori
New research using a mātauranga Māori framework looked at the impact of Māori immersion early childhood education for tamariki. The researchers identified Māori child development constructs of "...tuakiri (a secure local Māori identity), whānauranga (feeling and acting as a member of whānau), manawaroa (courage despite adversity, persisting despite difficulty and a positive outlook), and piripono (integrity, commitment and responsibility for a shared kaupapa)." The researchers measured change over time and found that the tamariki experienced growth in all 4 of these areas. Lead researcher Dr Aroaro Tamati said:
"Early childhood is a vehicle for rebuilding our generations that have lost so much, it’s a vehicle for rebuilding Māori community. When you look at it that way it all makes sense. It’s got a purpose, it’s got an intent, it’s really powerful. Whānau see themselves in that picture and they make a difference for their children just by that alone."
The Growing up in New Zealand study is also exploring how Māori language is developing in children growing up in contemporary Aotearoa New Zealand. Study research director and kaupapa Māori epidemiologist Dr Sarah-Jane Paine (Tūhoe) spoke about the research with Te Hiku Radio.
The Harnessing the spark of life: Maximising whānau contributors to rangatahi wellbeing research explored what supports rangatahi Māori to thrive with a focus on understanding what whānau, health and social service providers could do to support whanaungatanga and ensure that rangatahi are connected, healthy and well. The project involved developing resources for rangatahi and whānau including:
- Whanaungatanga: Kia Renarena te Taukaea, a booklet that shares rangatahi Māori stories about whanaungatanga and what it means to them (also available in te reo Pākehā | English)
- Te Poipoi i te: whanaungatanga, a booklet that tells rangatahi stories about how they experience whanaungatanga. It is designed as a resource that for whānau to better understand their rangatahi (also available in te reo Pākehā | English).
A new free app gives māmā and whānau hapū access to the wisdom and knowledge that would once have been passed on from their pakeke and kaumātua, available in te reo Māori and English. The Tuku Iho App is framed from a te ao Māori perspective and linked to mātauranga Māori. When launching the app in August 2022, Selah Hart, CEO of Hāpai Te Hauora said:
"Pre-colonisation, whānau thrived by living and working on their own whenua and papa kāinga and knowledge and skills were naturally passed down in many ways. However, many factors have changed this, and the way we live now requires additional knowledge transfer options for whānau.
"The ongoing workforce shortages are impacting us particularly when it comes to having enough Māori midwives available and able to care for our own. Due to a continued lack of support for Māori midwives to practice on their own without burn-out, antenatal care and education delivered in a kaupapa Māori way is hard to come by for whānau hapū.
"We recognised this gap and developed the Tuku Iho app. It is somewhere whānau hapū, māmā hāpu and māmā hou can go to find trusted information about hauora hapūtanga, pēpi ora and SUDI prevention embedded from the world view of Māori."
The National SUDI Prevention Coordination Service (NSPCS) at Hāpai Te Hauora Māori Public Health led the development of the app in partnership with Māoriland Charitable Trust, KIWA Digital and the Hira Programme in Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand.
Related media
Code shares Whanau Ora principles, Waatea News, 19.09.2022
Wahine Toa: Hana Te Hemara and the fight for the Maori language, Newsroom, 16.09.2022
Hot ways to ask for consent in te reo Māori, Re:News, 13.09.2022
Remembering the Māori Language Petition and the revival of te reo Māori, RNZ, 13.09.2022
Te reo Māori: From banned, to 'official', to a 'taonga' and beyond, Stuff, 12.09.2022
Honouring our Māori language champions, 50 years on, Beehive media release, 02.09.2022
Ancestral knowledge given a digital platform, Stuff, 16.08.2022
Submissions open on accessibility legislation
The Social Services and Community Committee is calling for public submissions on the Accessibility for New Zealanders Bill.
The closing date to make a submission is 7 November 2022.
According to the call for submission information, the purpose of the Accessibility for New Zealanders Bill is to address "...the accessibility barriers faced by disabled people, tāngata whaikaha, and others, so they can live independently and participate fully in all areas of life. The bill also aims to ensure that disability issues are front of mind in decisions by policy makers and the Government of the day."
The bill would do 3 main things:
- establish an accessibility committee to provide advice and make recommendations about accessibility to the Minister for Disability Issues
- enhance accountability and co-ordination across the Public Service and Government to progress accessibility issues by creating responsibilities for the Minister for Disability Issues, the chief executive of Whaikaha – Ministry of Disabled People, and the Accessibility Committee
- build knowledge and awareness about the importance of addressing accessibility barriers.
The select committee has made a video (available on YouTube) that explains the bill and how to make a submission:
The bill is available in different formats including large print, braille, audio and screen reader friendly. This page also has the policy statement for the bill in NZSL and Easy read in English and Te Reo Māori formats.
The committee can be contacted with questions at ssc@parliament.govt.nz or 04 817 9520.
Disability Issues Minister Poto Williams said:
"While the Bill does not have a regulatory focus, I expect that it will lead to new or amended regulations as accessibility barriers become more of a focus, with the establishment of Whaikaha - the Ministry of Disabled People, the first of its kind in any comparable jurisdiction."
The media release also noted the legislation would be reviewed every 5 years.
Background information
The government announced plans to introduce accessibility legislation in October 2021. For more information see the:
- Cabinet paper seeking agreement to introduce the Accessibility for New Zealanders Bill
- Cabinet paper that outlines the policy approach and legislative framework for accessibility legislation in Aotearoa New Zealand
- Ministry of Social Development's programme of work to ensure the public sector is accessible for everyone and inclusive of disabled people.
The recently published UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities concluding observations (CRPD/C/NZL/CO/2-3) of New Zealand's implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities stated the Committee was concerned that:
"Reports from organisations of persons with disabilities that the Accessibility for New Zealanders Bill, currently before Parliament does not contain enforcement mechanisms, may not cover private entities or local government, lacks standard-setting and decision-making bodies, and lacks obligations to make tangible changes within fixed time frames" (see 15d).
The Committee called on the government to "Establish a co-design and co-production process with organisations of persons with disabilities to address concerns about the Accessibility for New Zealanders Bill, following release of the Select Committee’s report" (see 16d).
Before the Accessibility for New Zealanders Bill was introduced, Access Matters outlined 13 principles that should be core to accessibility legislation.
Community and advocate responses
Advocates have criticised the proposed legislation.
Access Matters Aotearoa issued a media release stating the "New accessibility legislation before Parliament lacks teeth and needs to include standards, a regulator, a barrier notification system and a dispute resolution process in order to make a real difference for all New Zealanders... ." Access Matters Aotearoa has launched a petition calling on the government to strengthen the proposed legislation. Access Matters Aotearoa has information and resources to help make a submission on the bill and also has a Quick Submission Form.
Blind Low Vision NZ has published a draft Position Statement on the Accessibility for New Zealanders Bill calling for the legislation to be broadened and strengthened.
The Disabled Person's Assembly highlighted gaps in the proposed legislation and noted the legislation does not include accessibility standards or any enforcement mechanism.
See further responses from advocates in the related media below.
Links between violence and disability
Recent research in Aotearoa New Zealand has shown that disabled people are more likely to experience intimate partner violence and/or sexual violence:
Prevalence of nonpartner physical and sexual violence against people with disabilities (2021)
New Zealand crime and victims survey cycle 3, Ministry of Justice (2021).
The Human Rights Commission published two reports about the experiences of violence and abuse among tāngata whaikaha Māori and disabled people. The reports, Whakamanahia Te Tiriti, Whakahaumarutia te Tangata (Honour the Treaty, Protect the Person, 2021) and Whakamahia te Tūkino kore Ināianei, ā Muri Ake Nei (Acting Now for a Violence and Abuse Free Future, 2021), outline the evidence on the causes and impacts of violence including racism and colonisation, and abuse against tāngata whaikaha Māori and disabled people. The reports outline gaps in systems, knowledge and services and set out a roadmap for systemic change. Together the reports make 20 recommendations.
Te Puna Aonui (formerly the Joint Venture) published 10 analysis papers that summarised the feedback gathered from the community engagement process to develop Te Aorerekura, the National Strategy. This includes an Analysis paper about disabled people’s (2021) experience with the family violence and sexual violence systems and the opportunities for improving how to prevent, respond, heal and recover from these forms of violence.
The 7th report from the Family Violence Death Review Committee examined family violence in the context of a disability within the family and identified where systems and service providers could improve understanding, awareness and responses. The Committee also shared a video highlighting reflections on the report from representatives of the disability community. A transcript from the video is available.
The UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities concluding observations (CRPD/C/NZL/CO/2-3) of New Zealand's implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities also highlights issues related to violence and abuse experienced by disabled people in New Zealand.
The report, Making Disability Rights Real, Whakatūturu Ngā Tika Hauātanga (2020), highlighted issues faced by disabled people in Aotearoa New Zealand, including violence and abuse. The Independent Monitoring Mechanism published an updated report in August 2022, Disability Rights: How is New Zealand doing?
Not inherently vulnerable: An examination of paradigms, attitudes and systems that enable the abuse of dis/abled women (2017), a thesis by Debbie Hager describes the systems and attitudes which enable harm to occur.
Michael Roguski identified how violence and abuse impacts the lives of disabled people in The hidden abuse of disabled people residing in the community: An exploratory study (2013) based on interviews with disabled people living in the community in Tairawhiti.
For more information search our library on disabled people | Tāngata whaikaha.
Related news
Public consultation on changes to the New Zealand Sign Language Act
Disability Issues Minister Poto Williams has also announced that the government is consulting on potential changes to the New Zealand Sign Language Act 2006. She said:
"The consultation will be an NZSL-first approach, with options for people in the Deaf community to attend in-person meetings held primarily in NZSL. These will be in Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington. Information on the Office for Disability Issues website will be in NZSL, and the Deaf community will have the option to share their views in NZSL, and in English.
"For many years others have spoken for Turi Māori and I am particularly interested in learning from Turi Māori and their whānau about how the NZSL Act could better reflect Te Tiriti o Waitangi and support the leadership of Turi Māori."
The consultation has started and closes on 11 November 2022. A Bill to amend the NZSL Act is expected to be introduced in mid-2023. Find more information about participating in the consultation from the Office for Disability Issues website.
Paul Tesoriero new CEO of Whaihaka - Ministry of Disabled People
In August 2022, Minister for Disability Issues, Poto Williams announced that Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission appointed Paula Tesoriero MNZM as Chief Executive of Whaikaha – Ministry of Disabled People. Paula Tesoriero has been the Disability Rights Commissioner at Te Kāhui Tika Tangata - the Human Rights Commission since 2017 and was Acting Chief Human Rights Commissioner from 2018 to 2019. She has been appointed for five years. In her previous role as Disability Rights Commissioner, Paula has raised awareness about violence and abuse experienced by disabled people including commissioning reports on tāngata whaikaha Māori and disabled peoples' experience of violence in Aotearoa.
Related media
One year on, fears legislation will limit Disability Ministry, One News, 02.07.2023
'How long must we wait?' Disabled people want stronger accessibility legislation, Stuff, 27.02.2023
Disability Minister has 'heard concerns' about accessibility bill, One News, 22.02.2023
'Burn the building down': Why urgent change is needed at Oranga Tamariki, Stuff, 23.10.2022
Accessibility bill ‘unlikely to lead to change’, disability advocates say, Stuff, 20.10.2022
10,000 Kiwis demand 'more grit' in accessibility bill, One News, 17.10.2022
Proposed accessibility law is useless without enforceable standards, Stuff, 26.09.2022
UN disability rights experts concerned with NZ progress, call for urgent action, Stuff, 19.09.2022
Minister welcomes ‘timely’ UN observations, Beehive media release, 14.09.2022
Disability ministry head wants change in attitudes, One News, 04.09.2022
UN committee 'concerned' NZ Government ignoring disability rights' advice, Stuff, 27.08.2022
Concerns people with disabilities are excluded from the workforce, Tagata Pasifika, 25.08.2022
Consultation on use of technology in courts
Update: Ngā Kōti o Aotearoa | Courts of New Zealand released the final Digital Strategy for Courts and Tribunals of Aotearoa New Zealand on 29 March 2023. For more information see the Chief Justice of New Zealand's media release.
The judiciary is seeking feedback on a draft Digital Strategy for the Courts and Tribunals of Aotearoa New Zealand. Feedback is invited from individuals or groups.
The closing date to give feedback on the Strategy is 30 September 2022.
The Digital Strategy will inform decisions about how technology will be used in the court system over the next decade. The draft Digital Strategy set out to answer 3 key questions:
- How can digital technology be used to support the administration of justice by the judiciary?
- How will technology enable the courts to do better what they do now?
- How will technology enable the courts to find new ways to meet unmet justice needs, to support just, timely and efficient dispute resolution processes and outcomes, and to support open justice?
The draft Digital Strategy provides an overview of the current situation and the need for modernisation and change noting:
"Our current paper-based systems and inadequate technology result in a great deal of time being spent trying to ensure that documents and other materials end up in the right place, and in a great deal of churn and wasted time – for example, where hearings cannot proceed because relevant reports have not been received or have not made it onto the file. There is also a real risk of adverse outcomes for court participants and for the community, where decisions are made without access to all relevant information." (page 6)
This strategy would apply to all courts of Aotearoa New Zealand including the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, High Court, District Court, Family Court, Youth Court and others. It would also apply to tribunals including the Disputes Tribunal, Employment Relations Authority, Human Rights Review Tribunal, Immigration and Protection Tribunal, Legal Aid Tribunal and others.
The draft strategy sets out objectives and guiding principles for the use of digital technology. It then identifies the 3 highest priorities for the next 5 years:
- Digitising the court record, court files, and case management system. This project, known as Te Au Reka (formerly Caseflow), has started and was approved in Budget 2022.
- Implementing a single system for remote hearings using audio-visual technology.
- Ensuring infrastructure across all courts and tribunals to support implementation of technology initiatives.
It also identifies other initiatives that should be considered as priorities in the next 5 years, such as ways to communicate with whānau, ways to share information with victims, remote access to interpretation and communication assistance, increased access to information about processes and timelines, and enforcement of outcomes of proceedings including sharing information with relevant agencies. The draft strategy also identifies further initiatives to consider in the long term.
Feedback can be provided by:
Related news
The following government consultations also have closing dates in September and October. Our related news stories below include links to research and information about the links between violence against women and the consultation areas below.
Corrections consulting on ways to improve outcomes
Ara Poutama Aotearoa | Department of Corrections is consulting on proposed options to improve rehabilitation, reintegration, and safety outcomes for people in the corrections system. The proposed changes are detailed in the Options to achieve improved outcomes in the corrections system: Discussion Document 2022. The areas of change identified by Corrections include:
"1. Monitoring and gathering information on prison activity and communications for intelligence purposes to improve prison safety
2. Ensuring people are assigned to male and female prisons by considering a range of factors
3. Increasing access to privacy and control over lighting in prison cells
4. Refining disciplinary processes in prisons
5. Supporting improved rehabilitation and reintegration outcomes for Māori
6. Providing remand accused people with greater access to non-offence focused programmes and services
7. Making a series of miscellaneous amendments to solve a range of technical issues that will assist day-to-day operations, including:
a. Body temperature scanners
b. Enabling the use of imaging technology to replace strip searches
c. Case management plans
d. Information sharing with Inland Revenue
e. Mixing of young people and adults
f. Minor/technical changes"
For each area, there are operational options and possible amendments to the Corrections Act 2004 and the Corrections Regulations 2005. Public feedback is invited by email to LegislationAmendments@corrections.govt.nz or through an online form. The closing date to give feedback is 23 September 2022.
Consultation on Aotearoa's first National Security Strategy
The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) is developing Aotearoa's first National Security Strategy. DPMC is seeking feedback on the long-term approach to national security. DPMC notes that:
New Zealand’s concept of national security is focused on protecting New Zealand from malicious threats from those who would do us harm. National security contributes to people's wellbeing, and involves working to identify, mitigate, and respond to threats that impact New Zealand and its people, including:
*Terrorism and violent extremism of all kinds
*Interference by another country in our democracy (for example by covertly influencing our election process and voting decisions)
*Cyber incidents that affect important computer networks (for example the loss of access to bank accounts, extraction of data and personal records, or disruptions to power supply)."
Public feedback is invited through an online form. The closing date to give feedback is 30 September 2022.
Police seeking feedback on proposed regulations related to firearms registry
New Zealand Police is seeking public submissions on proposed regulations to support the new legislation for the Firearms Registry. The registry will link firearms to licence holders and track sales of all firearms, parts and ammunition. The consultation considers
- the arms items and the details of those items to be recorded in the Firearms Registry.
- the obligations of licence holders and people in possession of specified arms items to provide information to Police for inclusion in the Firearms Registry.
- associated provisions that support these changes.
Feedback can be submitted through an online form, email to consultation@police.govt.nz, or post to the Policy Group, Police National Headquarters, PO Box 3017 Wellington. For more information see the NZ Police media release or the Firearms and Safety section on the Police website. The consultation closes on 12 October 2022.
Consultation on Justice Sector Long-term Insights Briefing
The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) has published findings from this first part of the consultation to develop the Justice Sector Long-term Insights Briefing focused on imprisonment in a consultation document. The main themes are: How has the prison population changed and why? What helps keep people away from prison? What are the future risks and opportunities? MOJ is inviting feedback on this consultation document for the second part of the consultation to develop the Long-term Insights Briefing. The closing date to give feedback is 7 October 2022.
Related media
New strategy to guide use of technology in courts launched, RNZ, 29.03.2023
Prisoner numbers are down: let’s not go back to a ‘lock ’em up’ mindset, The Spinoff, 29.09.2022
Five Country Ministerial Communiqué, Beehive media release, 14.09.2022
The ROI 26223851 from ACC is inviting registration of interest from Kaupapa Māori providers including people who have expertise in sexual violence. This includes providers, researchers, subject matter experts or programme designers.
The closing date to register interest is 23 September 2022. Questions about the ROI are due by 14 September 2022 through GETS.
According to the ROI, ACC is:
"...looking for partners in Te Tai Tokerau and Tāmaki Makaurau rohe to design kaupapa Māori solutions to be delivered by Māori, with a focus on:
- services to support kiritaki and whānau with complex injuries and a high level of need (including, but not limited to, sexual violence and serious injuries); and
- injury prevention initiatives for whānau to know about mana-enhancing and tapu-enriched relationships with themselves, others and te taiao to eliminate sexual violence. These will be informed by mātauranga Māori to build the protective factors that keep whānau well.
We are looking for the following expertise to be part of the design panel:
- Whānau-led design specialists who have experience working with whānau Māori and/or facilitating whānau-led design.
- Kaupapa Māori health providers who are Māori-owned and operated.
- Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) who understand strengths-based, whānau-led approaches and the complexities of serious injuries and sexual violence.
- Kaupapa Māori researchers experienced in whānau research and developmental evaluation to inform discovery and detailed design.
We will appoint two separate panels – one to design localised solutions for Te Tai Tokerau and one to design localised solutions for Tāmaki Makaurau."
For more information about the opportunity, ACC has produced a video.
For more information see the ROI 26223851, Design panels for kaupapa Māori solutions in Te Tai Tokerau and Tāmaki Makaurau rohe (Tranche 2). More detailed information is available once signed in to the GETS website as a supplier. This ROI is focused on opportunities to develop services in Te Tai Tokerau and Tāmaki Makaurau. The ACC video notes that opportunities for other rohe will follow.
For background information see the ACC website for Kaupapa Māori health services and Kaupapa Māori solutions.
Related media
ACC looking for kaupapa Māori solutions to caring for Māori, Te Ao Māori News, 03.09.2022
ACC heads north to design kaupapa Māori solutions, ACC media release, 26.07.2022
ACC's $74m restructure lacks clear benefits, review finds, RNZ, 24.05.2022
ACC acknowledges commitment to Māori health outcomes with proposed new strategy, RNZ, 11.05.2021
ACC ready to listen on design of new kaupapa Māori health services, ACC media release, 07.05.2021
We are excited to announce that the team at NZFVC is about to grow. We are looking for a Kaupapa Māori Research Lead and a Project Support Coordinator to support our work.
Kaupapa Māori Research Lead
This is a permanent part time (24 hours per week) role. We are looking for someone who can:
- Develop and lead the implementation of a Māori information strategy for the NZFVC.
- Develop and maintain relationships with Māori researchers and networks.
- Support effective knowledge translation and mobilisation activities that enhance understandings of family, whānau and mahi tūkino/sexual violence in Aotearoa.
- Identify and communicate critical knowledge gaps to inform future research.
- Contribute to the development of resources and research translation outputs including research reports, issues papers, evidence briefs, webinars and infographics.
- Produce regular summaries of administrative data on family violence and sexual violence and provide analysis of the data suitable for a broad audience.
- Provide subject matter expertise to support submissions and consultations on government policy and legislative change.
- Support the integration of community research and practice based evidence into the work of the NZFVC.
For more information on the Kaupapa Māori Research Lead role including how to apply please see the advertisement on the Seek website. Applications are open until 5pm, 12 September 2022.
Project Support Coordinator
This is a permanent part time (20 hours per week) role. We are looking for someone who can:
- Coordinate NZFVC events both online and face to face, including webinars, seminars and consultation hui.
- Facilitate successful collection and reporting of engagement, outcome and successful delivery of events.
- Oversee and update NZFVC social media channels, NZFVC News, Events and other relevant research and information.
- Produce high quality documents for funder/evaluation/informational/outcome reports, presentations, newsletters, email memos, minutes of board and other meetings.
- Effective information and data capture, storage and sharing systems for the NZFVC Team are in place and maintained.
For more information on the Project Support Coordinator role including how to apply please see the advertisement on the Seek website. Applications are open until 5pm, 12 September 2022.
Please also share these opportunities with your networks.
MSD has launched a new online Check it out relationship tool. People can use the online tool to check if they are experiencing abuse in their relationship. It asks questions about a partner's or ex partner's behaviours in the relationship. For each question there are examples of what the behaviour might look like. Questions address different types of abuse including physical, financial, psychological, controlling behaviours and more.
The tool includes questions and examples of behaviours that are unique to those with a broad range of identities. MSD worked with a range of family violence specialists to develop the tool including Māori, Pasefika, Rainbow, disabled peoples and ethnic communities. The tool adds specific questions for people who have children, have separated from their partner, are from an ethnic community, are Pacific, are a disabled person, and/or are Takatāpui, LGBTQIA+ or Rainbow.
Depending on the person's identity there are between 15 to 42 questions. After completing the questions, the tool provides information that identifies different types of abuse the person might be experiencing and offers support services.
The new tool has replaced the Relationship Quiz which was on the Are You Ok website. Some content in the tool came from the 1 in 3 Be Free App. In 2016 the Inner City Women’s Group (ICWG) in partnership with Omnispex developed an app for New Zealand heterosexual women to screen their relationships for violence and abuse. The ICWG donated their intellectual property to help develop the Check it out tool.
MSD has been updating the Are You OK website.
In the July 2022 MSD Family Violence and Sexual Violence Service Provider Update, MSD also noted they are working on a new website for people who use violence, to encourage and support them to access support to make change. See past updates and subscribe to future updates.
Related app for people experiencing abuse and violence
The June 2022 MSD Family Violence and Sexual Violence provider update announced the launch of the Bright Sky App in Aotearoa New Zealand. MSD partnered with Te Rourou - Vodafone Foundation Group to launch the app. The Bright Sky app provides support and information for people concerned about family violence, or worried about the safety of themselves, or someone they care about. The app was first launched in the UK by the Vodafone Foundation Group in collaboration with a range of family and sexual violence service providers. It is now available in 11 countries including New Zealand.
Related media
The report, Shining Light on the Shadow: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on abuser behaviour (2022), shares the findings from an online survey of 35 women victim-survivors about their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic in Aotearoa New Zealand.
The women described how former partners used the pandemic as a new tool/weapon of abuse, highlighting that:
"These abusers used the isolation, fear, risk of illness and lack of clarity and inconsistency of information, to control, isolate and abuse their ex/partners and children. The types of abuse described by participants included psychological, physical, litigation and financial. Abusers frequently forced contact with the adult victim-survivor and children using in most cases online platforms and/or court ordered contact with children to do so."
While all but one respondent was separated from the abuser at the time of the survey, and more than half had been separated for over five years, the women reported experiencing ongoing abuse and also reported their children's experience of violence and abuse while the children were in court ordered unsupervised care with the abuser during lockdowns.
Of the 65% of respondents (22 women) who said their abusive partner's behaviour changed (50%) or might have changed (15%) during the pandemic, the majority said the abuser's behaviour was worse during the pandemic (82%).
Respondents reported the abuser used the pandemic to further abuse. This included using public health measures to control, threaten and stalk them or their children, financial and economic abuse and forcing contact, often through court ordered contact with children.
The Backbone Collective also found that the ongoing abuse the women experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic "...was deeply interconnected with their mothering and their own children’s experiences of abuse." Women reported that the abuser prevented them from having contact with their children, put the children at risk of getting COVID or prevented the children from getting care when they were ill with COVID, and told the children "...frightening things about COVID-19 including that they would not see their mother again or that she would die of COVID-19."
Women sought help from the Family Court, Police, support services, counsellors and specialist family violence providers. While helpful responses were most likely to be provided by specialist family violence services and counsellors, the Backbone Collective reported that:
"Overall these victim-survivors describe a system response that overlooked their safety and welfare needs, failed to identify the risk that separated women and children faced during the pandemic, forced their children into lockdown care with abusers and failed to respond when they raised the alarm."
Throughout the survey, respondents shared feedback for family court, police and support services including:
- "Just because a relationship ends, that does not mean the violence and abuse ends too.
- It is not safe to recommend that an abusive ex partner drop children to the victim-survivor’s house in lockdown.
- Children who spent time without their protective parent in the abuser’s care in lockdown were stressed and traumatised by that experience. The impact of that experience is ongoing for these children.
- Mothers of children who were separated from their children during the lockdowns were traumatised by that experience. The impact on these mothers continues.
- Abusers increased their control of victim-survivors and children during the pandemic. That control impacted on victim-survivors’ relationships with other family members, working life, financial situation and mental health and is ongoing.
- Court proceedings brought about by abuser behaviour in response to the pandemic have been drawn out and continue for victim-survivors in this study."
The report includes services that survey participants identified are needed to support victim-survivors and children during the pandemic and similar situations. The report concludes with a number of recommendations for government and non-government agencies to respond safely to the needs of victim-survivors both for the COVID-19 pandemic and future situations.
There is a growing amount of research focused on violence against women and children in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. We continue to add new research to our library - search our library under the quick topic search COVID-19. Also see the June 2022 special issue of the Journal of Gender-Based Violence focused on The COVID-19 pandemic and gender-based violence.
Related news
The Justice Committee is calling for submissions on the Family Court (Family Court Associates) Legislation Bill. The bill proposes to create a new Family Court Associate role. The Family Court Associate would be a judicial officer, enabling them to take on some work currently undertaken by judges, such as making decisions in the early stages of proceedings. The purpose of this new role is to improve outcomes and reduce court delays for people who participate in Family Court proceedings, particularly children. The closing date for submissions is 14 September 2022.
The Justice Committee is also calling for submissions on the Child Protection (Child Sex Offender Government Agency Registration) (Overseas Travel Reporting) Amendment Bill and Supplementary Order Paper (SOP) No 175. The bill would require registered child sex offenders to provide additional information to Police before travelling overseas. The SOP would allow for the exchange of information between Customs and Police. The closing date to make a submission is 14 September 2022.
In July 2022 Justice Minister Kiri Allan announced further details about the changes to the legal aid scheme.
Related media
Justice delayed is justice denied, RNZ, 03.08.2022
Justice system backlog at “acute pinch point”, The Spinoff, 29.07.2022
Victims at risk as justice stalled due to 'exorbitant' court delays, Stuff, 28.07.2022
Divorce 'warfare': The legal tactics when marriage break-ups turn ugly, NZ Herald, 25.07.2022
New family court roles to ease judge workloads and speed up cases, Stuff, 05.07.2022
Government action to tackle delays in Family Court, Beehive media release, 05.07.2022
The Justice Committee is calling for submissions on the Family Court (Family Court Associates) Legislation Bill.
The closing date for submissions is 14 September 2022.
The Family Court (Family Court Associates) Legislation Bill proposes to create a new Family Court Associate role. The Family Court Associate would be a judicial officer, enabling them to take on some work currently undertaken by judges, such as making decisions in the early stages of proceedings. The purpose of this new role is to improve outcomes and reduce court delays for people who participate in Family Court proceedings, particularly children.
The bill would amend the Family Court Act 1980 to provide for the appointment, jurisdiction and powers, remuneration, restrictions, and immunity of Family Court Associates. The amendments to the Act would also enable Family Court Associates to transfer certain proceedings to a Family Court Judge.
The submission information from the Justice Committee also notes:
"The bill would also amend the following Acts to give Family Court Associates some of the functions and powers of Family Court Judges in certain circumstances:
Adoption Act 1955
Care of Children Act 2004
Child Support Act 1991
Family Proceedings Act 1980
Family Violence Act 2018
Marriage Act 1955
Oranga Tamariki Act 1989
Property (Relationships) Act 1976
Protection of Personal and Property Rights Act 1988
Status of Children Act 1969."
The submission information also notes "The Family Court Associate role is based on a recommendation made by the Independent Panel in its report about the 2014 family justice reforms, Te Korowai Ture ā-Whānau." Te Korowai Ture ā-Whānau is the final report of the Independent Panel examining the 2014 family justice reforms.
In announcing the bill, Justice Minister Kiri Allan said:
“We want Family Court judges to be able to concentrate on progressing cases, which can be hugely traumatic for children, through the court instead of time-consuming administrative matters, and these roles will help them do just that.”
Update: The select committee report has been published for the Family Court (Family Court Associates) Legislation Bill. The Committee has recommended passing the bill with amendments. In addition, a number of additional reports from the Ministry of Justice providing advice on the proposed legislation have been published under the submissions.
Update: The Family Court (Family Court Associates) Legislation Bill passed its 3rd reading on 30 May 2023.
Update: The first 6 Family Court Associates were appointed by Attorney-General Judith Collins in March 2024.
Other Family Court reforms
This bill is part of the Government's family law reform work based on the Independent Panel’s recommendations. This work has also included the establishment of Kaiārahi – Family Court Navigators and the Family Court (Supporting Children in Court) Legislation Bill.
When the Family Court (Supporting Children in Court) Legislation Bill passed its third reading, former Justice Minister Kris Faafoi said “The Bill will enhance children’s participation in proceedings that affect them. It will help children feel supported and informed as they move through the family justice process.” The legislation also reinforces expectations that family violence should be taken into account in guardianship orders or parenting orders, and expands lawyer for children duties and expectations to be suitably qualified in care of children proceedings.
For more information see the parliamentary bill digest. The Family Court (Supporting Children in Court) Legislation Act 2021 comes into force on a date that is 2 years after the date on which the Act received Royal assent. In their summary of the bill, VOYCE – Whakarongo Mai noted next steps involve developing best practice guidance for child participation.
Related news
The Justice Committee is also calling for submissions on the Child Protection (Child Sex Offender Government Agency Registration) (Overseas Travel Reporting) Amendment Bill and Supplementary Order Paper (SOP) No 175. The bill would require registered child sex offenders to provide additional information to Police before travelling overseas. The SOP would allow for the exchange of information between Customs and Police. The closing date to make a submission is 14 September 2022.
Justice Minister Kiri Allan has announced further details about the changes to the legal aid scheme. She noted changes will be implemented to the Legal Services Regulations 2011 and the Legal Services Act 2011. Her announcement included an overview of the changes:
- "increasing the income eligibility thresholds by 15% from 1 January 2023, making 93,000 more people eligible for civil and family legal aid in the first year,
- removing the legal aid user charge, payable by most civil and family legal aid recipients,
- removing interest on repayment of unpaid legal debt,
- increasing the debt repayment thresholds by 16.5% for debt established from 1 January 2023, relieving financial pressures for around 16,000 low-income and vulnerable New Zealanders, and
- increasing the civil and family legal aid eligibility thresholds and debt repayment thresholds by an additional 1.9% per year with the last increase on 1 July 2025."
In response to the changes, Legal academic and researcher Bridgette Toy-Cronin writes:
"While these immediate improvements in the legal aid system are to be welcomed, the problems in the civil justice system run much deeper. Legal aid remains a system that helps only the poorest, leaving the better part of New Zealand in the ‘justice gap’, unable to pay for a lawyer but unable to access legal aid."
She goes on to say:
"Properly funding legal aid is vital to maintaining the rule of law – without access to the courts, laws are just on the books but don’t operate in real life.
But in a society where legal problems are a common occurrence, legal aid cannot provide the whole answer. We need to get creative about providing effective help without breaking the bank."
Toy-Cronin is part of a working group developing a strategic framework to improve access to civil justice in Aotearoa New Zealand. Learn more about the issues with the legal aid system from the Auckland District Law Society.
Research Fellow and Associate Professor Camilla Nelson published the research brief They Thought it was Safe: Securing Children's Safety and Rights in Australia's Family Law System (May 2022) and related podcast. Nelson presents findings from case studies of the impact of the Australian Federal Circuit and Family Court proceedings on children. She outlines 12 recommendations to minimise harm and improve children's rights during family law disputes. For more information see her book co-authored with Catharine Lumby, Broken: Children, Parents and Family Courts (2021).
The Waitangi Tribunal has started the Justice Inquiry (WAI 3060). The Justice Inquiry is a Kaupapa (thematic) inquiry and will look at the New Zealand justice system in its entirety.
Related media
Abuse victim Mrs P a step closer to appealing 'excoriating' court decision, Stuff, 31.10.2022
Family court fix too slow, Waatea News, 18.10.2022
Justice delayed is justice denied, RNZ, 03.08.2022
Justice system backlog at “acute pinch point”, The Spinoff, 29.07.2022
Victims at risk as justice stalled due to 'exorbitant' court delays, Stuff, 28.07.2022
Divorce 'warfare': The legal tactics when marriage break-ups turn ugly, NZ Herald, 25.07.2022
Kiritapu Allan | Minister of Conservation [interview], Waatea News, 06.07.2022
New family court roles to ease judge workloads and speed up cases, Stuff, 05.07.2022
Government action to tackle delays in Family Court, Beehive media release, 05.07.2022
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