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New reports, government strategy and consultation on prison
The Department of Corrections has announced a new women's strategy. The strategy was launched alongside the public release of three reports from the independent Corrections Inspectorate focused on women in prisons. The NZ Human Rights Commission has also published a new report on women in segregated housing in prisons across Aotearoa New Zealand. Lastly, Justice Sector agencies are inviting feedback on a Long-Term Insights Briefing on imprisonment.
New women's strategy for Corrections
The Department of Corrections launched Wāhine - E rere ana ki te pae hou (2021), the organisation’s new women’s strategy for 2021-2025. In the overview of the strategy it states "This strategy aims to reduce reoffending through gender and culturally responsive programmes and services that provide holistic support. It will also achieve this by ensuring our workforce, at all levels, works in ways that respond to the unique needs of women." The media release notes that the strategy was developed in consultation with wāhine Māori, including women with lived experience of the justice system, whānau, service providers, staff and a range of agencies and iwi organisations.
In announcing the Strategy, Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis said "The current prison system is male-focused, a one-size-fits-all approach.” He went on to say "Many women in prison have had extremely complex pasts, often being the victims of violence and abuse themselves. We need to make sure we are giving them the best opportunity to rehabilitate their lives while keeping the community safe."
Reports on women in prison
At the same time, three reports have been released by the independent Corrections Inspectorate. The reports were prompted by a complaint in February 2020, from a lawyer representing three women at Auckland Region Women’s Corrections Facility. As the investigation got underway the Inspectorate broadened the focus to all three women's prisons and a thematic inspection of the lived experiences of women in prisons.
The single over-arching recommendation by the Chief Inspector of Corrections in the Thematic Report: The Lived Experience of Women in Prison (2021) is:
"The Department must review the strategic and operational leadership, resourcing, operating model and service delivery across the women’s prison network (including health services) to enable, and deliver, better outcomes for women, which are critically gender specific, culturally responsive and trauma informed."
The Human Rights Commission (HRC) has published the report, First Do No Harm: Segregation, Restraint and Pepper Spray use in women’s prisons in New Zealand (2021). HRC commissioned Dr Sharon Shalev of the Centre for Criminology at the University of Oxford to write the report. Dr Sharon Shalev, Awatea Mita and Professor Tracey McIntosh spoke during a webinar to launch the report.
Consultation to develop briefing on imprisonment
Justice sector agencies are inviting feedback to help develop a Justice Sector Long-term Insights Briefing on imprisonment. The consultation notes:
"This Briefing is an opportunity to understand more about what shapes the prison population and what drives the outcomes for those who have been imprisoned. This understanding will enable a deeper discussion about imprisonment that will inform future policy options.
The Briefing will build on what we already know about this subject through extensive public consultation and research over several decades."
There are two phases for the consultation. This first phase involves an online survey with 13 questions.
The closing date to give feedback on this phase is 30 November 2021.
A draft briefing will be developed from the feedback from the first phase. In early 2022, there will be a second phase of consultation on the draft briefing. The final Briefing is expected to be presented to Parliament in 2022. The consultation notes the Briefing "...will be available to government and the public as a resource and evidence base to help improve our future prison system."
Long-term Insights Briefings are a new government initiative requiring agencies to develop and share insights on the trends, risks and opportunities that affect or may affect Aotearoa New Zealand. The Public Service Act 2020 introduced this initiative which requires government department chief executives to publish a Long-term Insights Briefing at least once every three years. The Briefings are not government policy.
This is the first Justice Sector Long-Term Insights Briefing. The focus on imprisonment was chosen by the Justice Sector Leadership Board and Ināia Tonu Nei (a name shared by a kaupapa, a hui, a report and a group of kaitiaki with a goal to reform the Justice system). The Justice Sector Leadership Board includes the Secretary for Justice, NZ Police, Department of Corrections, Oranga Tamariki, Serious Fraud Office and Crown Law Office.
Update: 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. MOJ is inviting further feedback on the consultation document. The closing date to give feedback is 7 October 2022.
More information
For more information about the intersection of women who have been victims of family and/or sexual violence and prisons see the following:
Women’s imprisonment and domestic, family and sexual violence: research synthesis (2020), published by Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety (ANROWS)
Prison as Destiny? Descent or Dissent? (2020) by Tracey McIntosh and Maja Curcic in Neo-Colonial Injustice and the Mass Imprisonment of Indigenous Women
He rau murimuri aroha: wāhine Māori insights into historical trauma and healing (2019), published by Te Atawhai o Te Ao: Independent Māori Institute for Environment & Health
Wāhine Māori: keeping safe in unsafe relationships (2019) by Denise Wilson, Alayne Mikahere-Hall, Juanita Sherwood, Karina Cootes, and Debra Jackson, published by Taupua Waiora Research Centre
Thinking differently in order to see accurately: explaining why we are convicting women we might otherwise be burying (2019) presented by Julia Tolmie
Social entrapment: a realistic understanding of the criminal offending of primary victims of intimate partner violence (2018) by Julia Tolmie, Rachel Smith, Jacqueline Short, Denise Wilson and Julie Sach, published in the New Zealand Law Review
New Zealand prisoners' prior exposure to trauma (2017) by Marianne Bevan, published in Practice: the New Zealand Corrections Journal
Māori and Prison in The Palgrave Handbook of Australian and New Zealand Criminology (2017), by Tracey McIntosh and Kim Workman Crime and Justice
Behind the wire: Māori women and prison (2016) by Tracey McIntosh, presented at the Women's Studies Association of Aotearoa New Zealand (WSANZ) conference
Related media
Corrections slammed for Arohata prison purge, Waatea News, 24.08.2023
Figures reveal prisoners’ huge mental health need, Newsroom, 14.04.2023
Our prisons are breeding grounds for crime – what needs to change?, The Spinoff, 04.10.2022
Prisoner numbers are down: let’s not go back to a ‘lock ’em up’ mindset, The Spinoff, 29.09.2022
Prison’s mother’s unit unused for eight years, Newsroom, 09.05.2022
Lack of support for young female offenders - Youth Court Judge, RNZ, 18.02.2022
Shining a light on future wellbeing, Te Puni Kōkiri news, 18.11.2021
Prison trauma harming communities, Waatea News, 08.11.2021
The inadequacy of prisons for women, Newsroom, 05.11.2021
Oxford criminologist 'outraged' by NZ women’s prisons, RNZ, 04.11.2021
Prison changes reflect women’s roles, Waatea News, 01.10.2021
The Government announced a number of initiatives, including:
- establishing a Ministry for Disabled People (the name of the new ministry has not been determined)
- implementing the Enabling Good Lives approach to Disability Support Services nationally
- introducing new legislation on accessibility
- establishing a new Accessibility Governance Board.
In the announcement, Health Minister Andrew Little said “The disabled community told us that disability issues are not just health issues. We’ve heard and responded to their desire to lift disability support out of the health system, which is why we’re establishing a new Ministry for Disabled People to deliver support for all disabled people.”
The new Ministry for Disabled People will be hosted by the Ministry of Social Development (MSD).
The media release states "The Ministry will:
- Drive better outcomes for all disabled people
- Lead and coordinate cross-government strategic disability policy
- Work to deliver and transform disability support services, and;
- Progress work on the broader transformation of the wider disability system."
In her speech, Minister for Disability Issues Carmel Sepuloni said the new ministry "...has yet to be officially named but for now we will call [it] - The Ministry for Disabled People."
The Enabling Good Lives approach was developed by an independent working group of people with disabilities, their families and whānau, advocates and allies. It was designed to help support transformative change to Disability Support. The model has been trialled with Disability Support Services in Christchurch, the Waikato, and mid-central, which will now be rolled out nationally and according to MSD, the Government "...has an ambition for transition broader than services relating to disability issues."
The Government also plans to introduce The Accessibility for New Zealanders Bill. According to MSD, this legislation "...will include a suite of measures like methodologies for addressing accessibility barriers, monitoring, evaluation and reporting requirements, expectations for engaging with and listening to disabled people, as well as the purpose and principles for the accessibility framework."
When making the announcement Minister Sepuloni said “The disabled community’s voices will be embedded at all levels of decision-making, from the formation and running of the Ministry, to the development of accessibility legislation.”
Alongside the disability system reform and to support the legislation, the Government will establish an independent Accessibility Governance Board. The Board will ensure people with disabilities continue to be involved in decision making at the highest level possible.
Minister Sepuloni's speech outlined next steps saying:
"In the coming weeks, an Establishment Unit for Disability System Transformation will be established to stand up the new Ministry.
They’ll undertake a work programme in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, working through the elements of what the new Ministry will look like, and the ongoing transformation of disability support services.
Over the next few months, targeted engagement and consultation will take place with the disabled community and sector, whānau, Māori, iwi leaders and Pacific.
A key focus will not only be about locking down the detail of these changes but also ensuring that disabled people are not worse off during the transition period.
The Unit will facilitate important conversations on key policy aspects such as the name of the new Ministry and future transformation opportunities once the new Ministry is established.
MSD will also work alongside the disabled community on the name and make-up of the Accessibility Governance Board, and how we can embed Te Tiriti o Waitangi and reflect Te Ao Māori across all elements of accessibility and the system.
Having the offer of support extended to us by National Iwi Leaders Chairs and the Māori Health Authority gives me confidence that we can do this and do this right."
Minister Sepuloni will report back to Cabinet on progress early in 2022.
For more information see:
- Disability System Transformation: establishing a Ministry for Disabled People and national implementation of the Enabling Good Lives approach - Cabinet paper (available in different formats)
- MSD's Work Programmes on Accessibility, the Disability System Transformation and the Lead programme of work (to support leaders to create an inclusive and welcoming environment for people with disabilities)
- the recording of the live steam Announcement on Disability System Transformation and Accessibility from Attitude.
Disability Rights Commissioner Paula Tesoriero welcomed the announcement saying:
"Disabled peoples’ lives will be profoundly affected by the Government’s recent announcement about a new Ministry for Disabled People. I welcome these announcements as a potential platform for positive change. And change is certainly needed to create genuine transformation for disabled people in Aotearoa New Zealand. Transformation will rest on ensuring true partnership with Māori and leadership by disabled people and tāngata whaikaha Māori."
"It’s pleasing to see an explicit commitment to working closely with the disabled community to establish the Ministry. This is an aspect I will be closely monitoring. This Ministry won’t succeed without disabled peoples’ leadership - and disabled people as employees and decision-makers during the transition and in its on-going development."
See the related media below for responses from disability advocates and organisations.
Related news
A new report proposes a legal framework to make New Zealand accessible and remove barriers that create disabling experiences. The report, Making New Zealand Accessible: A Design for Effective Accessibility Legislation (2021), sets out a legislative framework that includes an Act, a regulator, a tribunal, accessibility standards, and a way to notify the regulator of barriers. The framework is designed to meet New Zealand’s obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Related media
Disability Ministry's ongoing costs and funding kept secret, RNZ, 29.01.2022
Shine A Light On Disability And Violence, Press Release: White Ribbon, Scoop, 13.12.2021
Dr Huhana Hickey | Kai Māngai Hāpori Whānau Hauā, Waatea News, 16.11.2021
Ministry for disabled has a big job to do, RNZ, 04.11.2021
New Ministry for Disabled People needs a relevant Māori lens, advocates say, Stuff, 02.11.2021
Vaka Tautua Applauds Disability System Transformation, Vaka Tautua media release, 29.10.2021
IHC Welcomes New Ministry For Disabled People, Press Release: IHC, Scoop, 29.10.2021
In September 2021, the Government released the report from the Ministerial Advisory Board which was set up to look at the child care and protection system. The report, Hipokingia ki te Kahu Aroha Hipokingia ki te Katoa: initial report of the Oranga Tamariki Ministerial Advisory Board July 2021, is also available in Te Reo Māori. The Cabinet Paper: Direction for Oranga Tamariki August 2021 and a new Oranga Tamariki Future Direction Action Plan (September 2021) were also publicly released.
The members of the Ministerial Advisory Board are Matthew Tukaki (Chair), Kahurangi Rangimārie Naida Glavish, Tā Mark Solomon and Shannon Pakura. In the report they write that "...we see a need to relentlessly focus the direction of Oranga Tamariki onto improving outcomes for tamariki and their whānau, and to enabling those capable of delivering this outcome most effectively to get on with the challenge." They found that the lack of focus for Oranga Tamariki "...has blurred responsibilities in two significant ways:
- first, the Crown has assumed the lead role in supporting tamariki and whānau without really knowing how to be effective in this; and
- secondly, the Crown has undermined the role of communities and particularly of hapū and iwi in leading their own communities."
As a result the report has three overarching recommendations:
- "In order to lead prevention of harm to tamariki and their whānau, collective Māori and community responsibility and authority must be strengthened and restored"
- "In order to work collaboratively with Māori, community organisations and other government agencies, the purpose of Oranga Tamariki must be clarified"
- "A national Oranga Tamariki Governance Board should be established to oversee the diversity and depth of changes needed."
The report includes a table of terms that the Ministerial Board was asked to review and the Board's assessment of whether they could provide assurance that Oranga Tamariki had addressed these terms. The Board concluded on all terms, that either it was a work in progress or an identified gap.
In addition, the report concludes with 25 specific recommendations. Among the detailed recommendations are calls for a programme of community engagement to plan how Māori collectives and community will lead prevention harm and for a national Oranga Tamariki Governance Board by the end of 2022.
Following the recommendations, the Board has also proposed to expand their review to include care residences, the role and function of the National Contact Centre, youth justice outcomes, and to consider the legislative parameters that Oranga Tamariki operates within, as well as the needs of tamariki with disabilities.
When releasing the report, Children’s Minister Kelvin Davis announced that the Government would accept all recommendations from the report saying:
“This report will end uplifts as we have known them. While there will always be a need for some children to be taken into care, this should only happen after all avenues with community and whanau have been exhausted.”
“Community-led prevention is the biggest thing for me from this report – our communities have the answers and Oranga Tamariki needs to work with them to stop children entering into care.”
This brief summary from Oranga Tamariki notes that Oranga Tamariki is tasked with supporting the Ministerial Advisory Board to develop options for a permanent governance board for Oranga Tamariki. It also notes that the Minister for Children will report back to Cabinet in February 2022 on:
- the implementation of the Action Plan
- options for a permanent governance board for Oranga Tamariki
- the development of a workforce strategy
- regional funding and decision-making.
For more information watch the recording of Minister Davis and Ministerial Advisory Board Chair Matthew Tukaki when announcing the report and government response. Also listen to interviews from Waatea News with Minister Davis and Matthew Tukaki.
Many advocates and experts have commented in interviews and articles on the report and response from the Government including VOYCE – Whakarongo Mai, Nicola Atwool, Lady Tureiti Moxon, Jean Te Huia and Social Services Providers Aotearoa. This brief video from Te Karere highlights views from Te Ao Māori leaders including Tupua Urlich (National Care Experienced Lead at VOYCE-Whakarongo Mai), Assistant Māori Commissioner for Children Glenis Philip-Barbara, Te Pāti Māori Co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Annette Sykes. See further commentary in the related media below.
Oranga Tamariki has published three papers that describe the background of Te Toka Tūmoana over the period 2013-2016. Te Toka Tūmoana is Oranga Tamariki's Indigenous and bicultural framework that describes the principles to guide practitioners, managers and leaders through work with tamariki and whānau Māori.
Funding for Ngāi Tahu iwi-led prevention programme
Minister Kelvin Davis announced that Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu (Te Rūnanga) will receive $25.9m of Oranga Tamariki funding over three years to improve outcomes for tamariki and whānau in the Ngāi Tahu takiwā (tribal area). Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu is the entity that represents 18 Papatipu Rūnanga which make up the tribe of Ngāi Tahu. The tribal takiwā, or territory, covers most of Te Waipounamu (the South Island).
The funding will support the new Whānau as First Navigators programme. The programme will support Ngāi Tahu and Ngā Maata Waka health and social service providers to build on their current work supporting whānau. This will focus on finding solutions for whānau before tamariki end up in the care of Oranga Tamariki.
Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu Kaihautū (CEO) Arihia Bennett said this "...mahi could include, specialist support, respite care, arrangements with extended whānau, or engaging tamariki with sports and cultural experiences.” Te Rūnanga will also look at how to "...influence and support the cultural development of social workers working alongside whānau Māori within the Ngāi Tahu takiwā."
Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu Kaiwhakahaere Lisa Tumahai said the name Whānau as First Navigators reflects the story of Rākaihautū, the helmsman of the waka Uruao, who made his journey from Te Patu nui o Aio to Aotearoa. She said:
“This name reflects the strength and resilience of whānau to lead their own journey and to make the best decisions for their tamariki. This programme will strengthen and enhance whānau rangatiratanga, while providing whānau access to the services they need, when they need them.”
The announcement is part of renewing the Strategic Partnership Agreement between Ngāi Tahu and Oranga Tamariki, originally signed in 2018. The Beehive media release stated "This will see decision making and resources shifted to communities, a new operating model with better support and training for social workers and an immediate halt to uplifts without proper consultation."
Related news
Social Development and Employment Minister Carmel Sepuloni has appointed Judge Frances Eivers (Ngāti Maniapoto and Waikato) as the new Children’s Commissioner. The Children’s Commissioner is an independent Crown Entity and advocates for the interests, rights and wellbeing of children and young people.
Outgoing Children's Commissioner Judge Becroft reflected on the changes still needed for children and young people in his lecture Five missing pieces in the Youth Justice jigsaw (recording available) and in a series of addresses on the youth justice system, the care and protection system and changes needed to improve child wellbeing. Waatea News interviewed Judge Becroft about his work as the Children's Commissioner. The Gisborne Herald spoke with Glenis Philip-Barbara, Assistant Maori Commissioner for Children, about her work.
In announcing Judge Eivers as the new Commissioner, Minister Sepuloni noted that
“The Office of the Children’s Commissioner is about to undergo significant change, with monitoring activities under the Oranga Tamariki Act transferring to the Independent Children’s Monitor. This will allow the Commissioner to focus entirely on the critical role of advocating for our tamariki and rangatahi."
In June, the government announced that the Independent Children’s Monitor (Te Mana Whakamaru Tamariki Motuhake) would become its own departmental agency within government and be hosted by the Education Review Office. It will be led by its own Chief Executive who will be a Statutory Officer. The September newsletter from the Independent Children's Monitor said "Work on the new legislation that will broaden the scope of the Monitor is in its final stages and we are hopeful that it will be introduced into Parliament by the end of the year." Outgoing Children's Commissioner Judge Becroft has questioned this approach and VOYCE – Whakarongo Mai has also criticised the decision.
Related media
Andrew Becroft: This is our chance, and we must grab it, E-Tangata, 07.11.2021
New Children's Commissioner: 'Huge kaupapa and a marathon of a mission', Stuff, 02.11.2021
The young barrister taking on the Family Court, Newsroom, 28.10.201
Ngāi Tahu whānau programme given $26m in move to 'shift the system', RNZ, 22.10.2021
Govt funds 'trailblazer' Ngāi Tahu programme to keep Māori kids out of state care, Stuff, 22.10.2021
What our child protection system should be doing, Newsroom, 21.10.2021
Chief Justice and Justice Young acted appropriately in 'Moana' case - commissioner, RNZ, 20.10.2021
OT places children with assaulting caregiver, Newsroom, 15.10.2021
Lawyer wants psychologist, social worker charged over child removal case, Newsroom, 08.10.2021
Split parents push MSD to modernise shared custody benefit rules, Newsroom, 08.10.2021
Judge’s block on ‘reverse uplift’ appealed, Newsroom, 07.10.2021
New Oranga Tamariki report a mixed bag, Newsroom, 05.10.2021
Debbie Ngarewa-Packer: 'Minister lacked courage' on Oranga Tamariki, One News, 03.10.2021
Sir Wira Gardiner stepping down as head of troubled Oranga Tamariki, Stuff, 01.10.2021
Judge will face panel inquiry over conduct, Stuff, 30.09.2021
Kahu Aroha Report on Oranga Tamariki, Waatea News, 29.09.2021
‘Self-centred’ Oranga Tamariki must devolve resources to community - report, Newsroom, 29.09.2021
Hope mixed with cynicism in response to Oranga Tamariki ‘generational change’, Newsroom, 29.09.2021
Significant Power Shift Vital For Our Mokopuna, Press Release: Green Party, Scoop, 29.09.2021
Using data from the 2019 New Zealand Family Violence Survey, University of Auckland researchers Ladan Hashemi, Janet Fanslow, Pauline Gulliver and Tracey McIntosh, looked at whether ACEs affected mental health, physical health and disability in adulthood. They found that adverse childhood experiences were associated with a higher risk of reporting poor mental health, chronic physical health conditions or disability in adulthood.
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) include physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, witnessing intimate partner violence, household substance use, household mental illness, parental separation or divorce, and incarcerated household member.
The study found that the more ACEs a person reported, the more likely they were to report negative health outcomes and the less likely they were to report positive health outcomes in adulthood. For example, the prevalence of poor mental health was 47% for people who reported four or more ACEs, compared to 17.3% for people with no ACEs. The prevalence of disability was 30% for people with four or more ACEs, compared to 13.6% for people who reported no ACEs. The prevalence of positive mental health was lower for people who reported four or more ACEs, compared to people with no ACEs (62.1% vs 78.6% respectively).
Even when the researchers took into account socio-demographic factors, ACEs were still strongly associated with negative health outcomes. They noted that these results confirm other international research "...that ACEs are detrimental across all income groups." They go on to say that "Policy and programmes to address child poverty are important in their own right, but will not fully mitigate the effect of ACEs."
The researchers also examined positive childhood experiences, an under-researched area. They found that ACEs negatively impacted health even when people also reported positive childhood experiences. However, they note this area needs further research to explore the type and amount of positive childhood experiences that might mitigate negative impacts from ACEs.
The researchers conclude that the:
"Findings of this study indicate that increased investment in prevention and treatment is needed to mitigate the deleterious effects of ACEs on health. ACEs screening during standard physical and mental health care for adults could help clinicians identify those at risk of physical and mental health problems who may need extra support or trauma-informed services."
They also highlight that children may experience ACEs as a result of structural factors such as child poverty, discrimination, racism and colonisation, writing "...these are underlying issues that also need dismantling."
The article, Exploring the health burden of cumulative and specific adverse childhood experiences in New Zealand: Results from a population-based study, was published in the journal Child Abuse & Neglect.
See our news stories below for other articles based on the 2019 New Zealand Family Violence Survey.
Related news
The Adolescent Health Research Group has published a new brief that explores student feelings of safety and experiences of physical and sexual violence between 2001 and 2019. The Safety and Violence: Youth19 Brief summarises statistics on safety and violence from the Youth19 and previous Youth2000 surveys. It includes findings on violence by adults at home, being hit or physically harmed by others and unwanted sexual experiences, sexual violence or abuse.
Related media
New Zealand belongs on 'international roll of shame' on children's wellbeing, Stuff, 22.10.2021
Service providers and researchers from Australia researched the impact of the pandemic on family violence advocate and worker wellbeing in the context of COVID-19 and identified key strategies to support staff. Based on this research, they developed best practice guidelines to support workplaces and supervisors to safeguard the wellbeing of practitioners working in remote settings, including working from home.
The Best Practice Guidelines: Supporting the Wellbeing of Family Violence Workers During Times of Emergency and Crisis are based on 4 key responses:
- Key Response 1: Set up remote workspaces in practitioners’ homes
- Key Response 2: Monitor and manage worker wellbeing
- Key Response 3: Communicate
- Key Response 4: Build a resilient family violence workforce.
For each area, the guide outlines specific actions for workplaces to take before, during and after crisis response to support workers and staff. Under key response area 2, focused on monitoring and managing worker wellbeing, the guidelines note:
"During times of crisis, it is crucial that organisations actively ‘check in’ with their workers. There are a number of strategies that organisations can utilise to support the mental health and wellbeing of their staff during periods of emergency including:
- Providing regular supervision dedicated to addressing the worker and their mental health and wellbeing
- Facilitating peer support and maintaining social connections among staff
- Encouraging breaks from work through access to leave."
The webinar, Responding to the Shadow Pandemic: Family Violence workforce wellbeing during COVID-19, explores the best practice guidelines. The guidelines are based on the research report When home becomes the workplace: family violence, practitioner wellbeing and remote service delivery during COVID-19 restrictions. This research is from the Monash Gender and Family Violence Prevention Centre in Australia as part of their wider research project on Gender-based violence and help-seeking behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Resources for individuals, managers and workplaces
Social Service Providers Aotearoa (SSPA) and ComVoices partnered with Umbrella Wellbeing to host a webinar on Strengthening Wellbeing in Times of Uncertainty with Zeenah Adam from Umbrella Wellbeing. SSPA has put together a summary of the webinar for kaimahi (workers and staff) across the non-government, Iwi social services and community sector in Aotearoa.
Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga recorded a number of COVID-19 Tautoko videos in 2020 to provide tautoko (support) to advisors, decision-makers, iwi, communities and whānau. The videos feature perspectives from Kaumātua and insights on noho ki te kainga (staying home).
Tuihana Ohia from the Centre for Social Impact developed Unu Ora - a series of brief meditations on health and wellbeing with a Te Ao Māori perspective. There are 5 Unu Ora in the series. Each Unu Ora offers a whakatauki to encourage reflection, and some questions and ideas to think about your wellbeing.
Kāhui Oranga, a collaborative health sector group, has a 6-part webinar series Leading for Wellbeing. The webinars include wellbeing through the eyes of Dame R. Naida Glavish, compassionate leadership and Ma pango, ma whero, ka oti te mahi! Our diversity is a strength, we require to succeed! featuring Rachel Prebble, Tofa Suafole-Gush and Chris King exploring their role as leaders in supporting diverse workforces.
Re: News featured a series of articles and videos on practical mindfulness tools with Te Ao Māori view using honest kōrero, humour and shared stories.
The Pasifika Medical Association, Pasifika Futures and Pacific Media Network collaborated to offer a brief weekly radio segment looking at conversations about mental health and wellbeing, called Ngalu Fānifo.
Whāraurau offers the free online course Self-care in Trauma-informed care organisations. While not specific to COVID-19 impacts, the course explains how trauma can affect people who support, protect and serve vulnerable children/tamariki and families and whānau. It offers practical steps to manage the impact of trauma and improve wellbeing.
The US-based National Resource Center on Domestic Violence (NRCDV) has produced three resources pulling together resources to support advocate and worker wellbeing, and community care and resilience:
TA Bundle: Community Care & Resilience (July 2021)
#Care4Advocates: COVID-19 Resources to Support Advocates’ Well-being (March 2020)
TA Bundle: Smiles for the Soul: The Advocate’s Scrapbook of Strength, Wisdom & Wellness (December 2019)
Update: The Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI) has published We Care Evidence Review: Exploring research into how wellness and care can be institutionalised in the violence against women field in low- and middle-income countries (2021). It includes recommendations for institutional-level care and wellbeing strategies and advice specific to supporting workers during the covid-19 pandemic.
Update: The Growing Together: A Guide to Collective Care…and why self-care isn’t enough (October 2021) published by the New Naratif, is comic that highlights the difference between self care and community care, and shares an example for creating community care in an organisation.
Update: InsideOUT Kōaro and researchers from the University of Otago documented the development of a culture of care to support the wellbeing of Rainbow activists involved with InsideOUT Kōaro in the article Creating a culture of care to support rainbow activists’ well-being: an exemplar from Aotearoa | New Zealand (May 2022).
Update: USAID published How to Embed Self- and Collective Care in Organizations Addressing Gender-Based Violence (April 2022) which providers an overview and outlines principles to guide organisational actions to embed self-care and collective care.
Update: Safe and Equal, based in Australia, has created resources to support wellbeing for people who work in primary prevention of family violence. The 'How We Thrive' Video Series (2023) includes 4 brief videos and tip sheets. These resources are designed to help managers and organisational leaders understand what prevention practitioners need to feel supported and valued in their organisations, as well as helping prevention practitioners to advocate for their own projects and wellbeing.
General resources to support wellbeing for individuals and workplaces during COVID-19
All Right? has information for individuals, families and whānau in their campaign on Getting Through Together. They also have information on workplace wellbeing.
The Mental Health Foundation has information about wellbeing, parenting during COVID-19, grief and loss, suicide prevention, what to do if you’re having a hard time getting through and more helpful resources. For organisations see their resources for Workplace wellbeing during Covid-19.
Te Rau Ora and The Centre for Māori Suicide Prevention developed the Manaaki Ora app - a self-help wellbeing app to support individuals and whānau to know what to do if they’re concerned with someone’s mental or emotional wellbeing.
The Ministry of Health has an extensive list of tools and where to get help to support your own wellbeing and others during the covid-19 pandemic.
Background on systemic impacts to advocate and worker wellbeing
International research indicates that workers in family violence and sexual violence are continuing to experience sustained significant increased service demands and increased stresses. For more information see our COVID FAQ part 2: Addressing the impacts of COVID-19 under the heading What needs to be done in Aotearoa New Zealand? Also see international research listed under Further Reading on our Information for specialist family violence and sexual violence services webpage.
Tainui Stephens wrote about Kaupapa Fatigue as "...the toll extracted from people who were so dedicated to making the Māori world better." He writes:
"It’s in the nature of oppressed peoples to fight back. There are necessary roles for the strategist, the warrior, the diplomat, and many other types of advocates and workers. But being forever active in the frontline of Māori revival and growth comes with a price.
I’ve known many individuals who grew old before their time because of the energy they expended, and the risks they took with their health or their domestic happiness, all to be able to serve a vital kaupapa that uplifted the wellbeing of the people.
The fatigue from their efforts is chronic when it becomes continuous. To serve the entity we call “the people” requires more hours than exist in a day. No wonder Māui tried to slow down the sun."
In a research article Fiona Cram explores mahi aroha in times of crisis and the capacity of Māori to continue to offer mahi aroha noting:
"In times of crisis and adversity, Māori have stepped up to undertake paid and unpaid work within their communities. For many, this work is done out of a love for the people and a desire to see those who are most vulnerable in their community supported through times of difficulty and loss. Mahi aroha is underpinned by Māori values that also inform responsive adaptations to kawa and tikanga alongside the repurposing of workforces, resources and networks. Social media is widely used to support collective resiliency and inspire hope. Part of securing Māori capacity for mahi aroha into the future is the provision of homes for whānau that enable them to give effect to their love for people and their willingness to reach out and support others."
For more information see Sacha McMeeking, Helen Leahy and Catherine Savage's article An Indigenous self-determination social movement response to COVID-19 (2020).
The webinar, Is It Burn Out or Moral Injury, from the National Indigenous Women's Resource Center (US-based), explores how colonisation, historical trauma and racism contribute to systems and infrastructure which create moral injury for advocates and workers. For more information see moral injury resources for social work and community advocates from the The Shay Moral Injury Center at the US-based Volunteers of America.
Update: See this article Self-care for gender-based violence researchers – Beyond bubble baths and chocolate pralines (April 2022) for a discussion and review of self-care for GBV researchers, structural limitations and impacts on GBV researcher wellbeing, and recommendations focused on relational and collaborative ways of taking care of ourselves and each other.
Update: The article Self-Care: What’s Power Got to do With It? (May 2022) from the Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI) blog explores structural and systemic factors including workplace norms, societal norms and power dynamics within organisations that influence self-care, highlighting that self-care does not look the same for everyone. Also see the related SVRI webinar Decolonising Wellness and Self-Care (May 2022).
Related media
The Waikato kaimahi kapa haka competition is connecting to a tool for healing, NZ Herald, 27.10.2023
Coping with ambiguity now Covid’s here to stay, Newsroom, 12.10.2021
Sometimes just a chat is enough, E-Tangata, 03.10.2021
Whaiora project - psychotherapy and Māori healing working together, Te Ao Māori News, 24.08.2021
NZ should learn from Māori resilience - Meng Foon, Te Ao Māori News, 09.08.2020
Consultation on draft Ministry for Ethnic Communities Strategy
The Ministry for Ethnic Communities is asking for feedback on their draft strategy.
The Ministry has identified four strategic priorities based on conversations with ethnic communities earlier this year. The draft strategy sets out a roadmap of actions to work towards those priorities. The Ministry is inviting feedback from ethnic communities and anyone with an interest in lifting the wellbeing of ethnic communities, including those who deliver services and support for ethnic communities.
You can give feedback through an online survey, by emailing the Ministry or participating in an online zoom session. See the Ministry's website for a list of dates and times for upcoming zoom sessions.
The closing date to give feedback is 5 November 2021.
The Ministry for Ethnic Communities is also consulting on the Former Refugees, Recent Migrants and Ethnic Communities Employment Action Plan.
Update: The Education and Workforce Committee opened an inquiry into migrant exploitation. The closing date for submissions is 3 February 2022. The inquiry will consider the frequency and scale of exploitation of migrant workers in New Zealand.
Consultation on the Pacific Languages Strategy
The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is asking for feedback on the draft Pacific Languages Strategy.
The Ministry has put together a draft Pacific Languages Strategy to help support an increase in the use of Pacific languages in Aotearoa. Data from Census 2013 compared to Census 2018 shows that the proportion of speakers of Pacific languages in Aotearoa has declined.
The draft strategy and feedback form are available in 9 Pacific Languages:
- Cook Islands Māori (Kūki ‘Āirani Māori)
- Fijian (Vosa Vakaviti)
- Kiribati (Te taetae ni Kiribati)
- Niue (Vagahau Niue)
- Rotuman (Fäeag Rotųam)
- Samoa (Gagana Samoa)
- Tokelau (Te Gagana Tokelau)
- Tonga (Lea Faka-Tonga)
- Tuvalu (Te Gana Tuvalu).
Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio said:
“These are all language groups with diverse and different needs, strengths, and challenges, and each group deserves a tailored approach.
“I urge everyone in our Pacific communities to lead the shaping of these approaches by giving feedback on the Pacific Languages Strategy.
“Let’s talk about our languages and the best way to collaborate for their wellbeing, which is such a cornerstone for our overall wellbeing."
The closing date to give feedback is 12 November 2021.
Related media
Milestone launch of Pacific Languages Unit, Beehive media release, 27.11.2021
Minister for ACC Carmel Sepuloni announced the funding investment noting that the sexual violence primary prevention system would focus on more than just violence, including the whole community and addressing the social drivers that allow sexual violence to occur.
She said the system would focus on communities most impacted by violence and gaps in the current response, including Māori, Pasifika, disabled, rainbow, ethnic and migrant communities, and older New Zealanders. The system would include a range of initiatives, including education, workforce development, community mobilisation and behaviour change.
Minister Sepuloni said "The new Te-Tiriti-informed primary prevention system announced today, will provide long-term, sustained investment and enhance our Government’s effort to prevent sexual violence. The package includes $11.715 million of targeted investment for kaupapa Māori approaches."
Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence Marama Davidson said "The approach being taken by ACC, aligns with the wider kaupapa of the Joint Venture and soon to be released National Strategy, which recognises that we cannot eliminate violence if we focus solely on response. This is why we are working with communities to develop prevention and healing components to stop violence from happening in the first place.”
Tender for Strategic Programme Design consultancy
ACC is seeking a Strategic Programme Design consultancy (or consortium/collective) to help develop the foundations for implementation of the Te Tiriti o Waitangi-centred investment in building a sexual violence primary prevention system.
The tender for Request for Proposals closes on 28 October 2021.
More information is available on the Government Electronic Tenders Service (GETS), see RFx ID: 24902801.
Related news
A new report identifies the economic cost of sexual violence in New Zealand is equivalent to $6.9 billion in 2020. ACC commissioned Business and Economic Research Ltd (BERL) to produce the report, Estimate of the total economic costs of sexual violence in New Zealand (2021). The BERL media release notes that the $6.9 billion in 2020 is made up "...of $600 million to the Crown, $5.2 billion to individuals, and $1.1 billion to wider society. This represents 6.3 percent of Core-Crown expenses in 2020 ($108 billion)."
Related media
ACC apologise for failing to tell woman she was eligible for financial compensation, RNZ, 22.12.2021
Online hui first step as ACC seeks feedback on handling of sensitive claims, RNZ, 09.12.2021
ACC therapists told to watch for sexual assault survivors exaggerating symptoms, RNZ, 08.12.2021
Sexual assault survivors criticise ACC's support process, RNZ, 08.12.2021
Rape survivors sometimes denied long-term ACC treatment if they have other trauma, Stuff, 26.11.2021
Reform ACC To Support Survivors Of Sexual Violence, Press Release: Green Party, 10.11.2021
Linda Clark to head ACC client information and privacy review, RNZ, 08.11.2021
ACC to spend $44.9 million on sexual violence prevention, RNZ, 03.10.2021
ACC defends closure of specialised unit handling claims from sexual abuse victims, RNZ, 07.07.2021
Sexual violence survivors cannot wait a year for help from ACC, RNZ, 16.06.2021
The article, Getting the Story Right: Reflecting on an Indigenous Rubric to Guide the Interpretation of Mortality Data, was authored by FVDRC Chair Fiona Cram (Ngāti Pāhauwera), Senior Policy Analyst at the Health Quality & Safety Commission Heidi Cannell (Ngāti Apakura) and FVDRC Senior Specialist Pauline Gulliver.
Te Pou (2019) is a Māori responsive rubric designed to provide guidance to mortality review committees at the Health Quality & Safety Commission for interpreting and reporting on Māori mortality. Te Pou outlines four pou:
- Tika (Getting the story and the interpretation right)
- Manaakitanga (Being culturally and socially responsible)
- Mana (Advancing equity, self-determination, and social justice)
- Mahi tahi (Establishing relationships for positive change).
The authors examine how the FVDRC addressed each of the four pou when developing, writing and sharing their sixth report. The authors also discuss lessons learned and highlighted where ongoing work was required:
“[mahi tahi] is a forward facing pou—one that provides an ongoing challenge for the FVDRC to advocate for positive, transformative change for Māori and to continue to seek active engagement”
The paper further focussed on the need to:
- centre Indigenous data sovereignty
- ensure continual active engagement with Māori stakeholders
- recognise and uphold Māori rights to equity.
In concluding the authors note that Te Pou and the guidelines are not a checklist and that:
"The implementation of Te Pou requires relational practice with Māori stakeholders and an upholding of kaupapa Māori knowledge. Resources must be made available at the start of report development to ensure a partnership approach to report writing that has the flexibility to attract additional expertise where it is needed. Currently, there is a tendency to require “Māori input into the interpretation of results” at a point where data has already been collected and analyses run. The implementation of Te Pou requires that the power balance is shifted, and that culturally safe spaces are created for all phases of report development—from conceptualization to publication and subsequent follow-up engagement with stakeholders. Culturally safe spaces can be created by intentionally considering the makeup of MRCs to embed Indigenous world-views."
Te Pou was designed by Ngā Pou Arawhenua, the Māori caucus for the mortality review committees. Ngā Pou Arawhenua also developed good practice expectations and guidelines when using Te Pou. The guidelines outline culturally appropriate components that should be part of the process of writing reports and developing recommendations.
For information about the development of Te Pou and the guidelines, see the article Improving the quality of mortality review equity reporting: Development of an indigenous Māori responsiveness rubric (2020) by Denise Wilson, Sue Crengle and Fiona Cram.
Related news
The FVDRC has brought attention to the recent high number of family violence homicides in Aotearoa New Zealand writing
"While we have been otherwise distracted by level 4 lockdowns, the family violence sector has been working hard to address the escalation in violence within homes. However, as many commentators have indicated, this lockdown is a lot worse than previous experiences, and our homicide statistics tell this story. In seven weeks, we have seen eight family violence homicides. We know the experience of family violence fuels the risks of death by suicide. It is unclear how many more we have lost over this time through family violence related suicide."
The September e-update from the Joint Venture on Family Violence and Sexual Violence provides information about safety messaging related to family violence and sexual violence and COVID-19 alert levels.
Related media
The unnoticed epidemic of violence and abuse against disabled people, Stuff, 01.10.2021
Four women killed in a fortnight - justice advocates fear further deaths, Stuff, 30.09.2021
Where's the social media outrage and march for Lena Zhang Harrap?, Stuff, 28.09.2021
The consultations include opportunities to give feedback on:
- Draft Strategy to Prevent and Minimise Gambling Harm (2022/23 to 2024/25)
- National Disability Survey 2023
- Vision and ideas for an Aotearoa New Zealand that is free of racism
- Pacific Pay Gap
Draft Strategy to Prevent and Minimise Gambling Harm
The Ministry of Health is asking for feedback on the proposed future direction and content of the Ministry of Health’s Strategy to Prevent and Minimise Gambling Harm (2022/23 to 2024/25). The Ministry of Health is responsible for developing and refreshing the strategy every three years, and for implementing the strategy. You can have your say about:
- the strategic plan including the general direction and priorities
- the proposed funding levels for the Ministry, in relation to the gambling harm prevention and minimisation activities described in the strategy
- the proposed service plan, for the next three years
- the proposed problem gambling levy rates and weighting options per gambling sector, for the next three years.
The closing date to give feedback is 8 October 2021.
Find research on the links between family violence and gambling in our library.
National Disability Survey 2023
Stats NZ is asking for feedback on the content of the upcoming 2023 Disability Survey. The survey is the primary source for estimating how many people with disabilities are in Aotearoa New Zealand. It also provides information on the experiences of people with disabilities and a range of housing, economic, and wellbeing outcomes. This will be the first national disability survey to be carried out since 2013.
Submissions close on 29 October 2021.
Research published earlier this year from a population-based prevalence study found that people with disabilities experience higher rates of partner violence and non-partner violence. See our library, for more information and research about people with disabilities and family violence.
Tackling racism in Aotearoa New Zealand
The NZ Human Rights Commission (HRC) is asking the public for ideas on how to tackle racism. HRC will summarise the feedback into a report. It is expected that the government will consider the report in work on a national action plan against racism. Race Relations Commissioner Meng Foon, who is leading the initiative, explains the purpose of the initiative in a video. HRC is asking for feedback on three questions:
- "What is your vision for an Aotearoa New Zealand that is free of racism?
- What difference would a racism-free Aotearoa New Zealand make to your life?
- What are your best ideas that would enable Aotearoa New Zealand to be free of racism?"
Submissions close on 23rd November 2021.
For more information about the links between family violence and racism, search our library under racism and colonisation.
Update: The Ministry of Justice is seeking public submissions on New Zealand’s draft combined Twenty-Third and Twenty-Fourth Report to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Submissions are open until 23 November 2021.
Pacific Pay Gap Inquiry
The NZ Human Rights Commission is also conducting an inquiry into the Pacific pay gap. The Pacific pay gap is the difference in pay between Pacific workers when compared with the highest paid group in Aotearoa - Pākehā males. The inquiry is focused on the private sector and particularly the Construction, Manufacturing, and Health and Care sectors. HRC is asking for feedback from Pacific communities about the human rights violations they are experiencing concerning pay, work conditions and career progression.
Submissions close on 30 November 2021.
For more information about the links between family violence and disadvantage, see our related news story below and search our library under the quick topic Socio-economic factors.
Related media
Minding the Gap on equal pay, RNZ, 20.10.2021 (also see Mind the Gap - Equal pay campaign from the National Council of New Zealand Women)
The unnoticed epidemic of violence and abuse against disabled people, Stuff, 01.10.2021
'Basic racism': Pacific workers struggle to get training and promotions, Stuff, 19.08.2021
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