Vine Quick Reads: 24 October 2025

Vine Quick Reads: 24 October 2025

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

New health resources from Backbone Collective to support victim-survivors

The Backbone Collective have developed new resources along with HELP Auckland to support victim-survivors to receive healthcare which is victim-survivor-centred and mana enhancing.

Resources include:

• A ‘How to Support Me’ template to help victim-survivors inform healthcare practitioners of their needs
• A ‘Centring Victim-Survivors in Healthcare Appointments’ guide for practitioners on how better to support victim-survivors
• An adaptable victim-survivor-centred consent script for practitioners
• An A4 quick-glance poster for quick tips for responding to distress during a healthcare appointment or procedure

You can share feedback on these resources via the Backbone Collective’s health landing page, here.

MSD Benefit System Report released

Te Manatū Whakahiato Ora | Ministry of Social Development (MSD) has released their Benefit System Report (2025). It provides commentary on the current state and longer-term trends of Aotearoa’s benefit system including shifts in the economy, labour market and population. In related news, the Government has announced changes to Jobseeker Support from November 2026. Young people, aged 18 and 19, will need to meet a Parental Assistance Test before they can get Jobseeker Support or Emergency Benefit. See media coverage from RNZ and 1News.

Changes to dissolution of marriage proceedings for victims of family violence

People affected by family violence now have a new legal ground to apply for a faster dissolution (divorce) of marriage or civil union as a protected person. The Family Proceedings (Dissolution of Marriage or Civil Union for Family Violence) Amendment Act 2024 now allows victims with a final protection order against their spouse to apply for a dissolution without having to live separately for two years as otherwise required. More information can be found on the Ministry of Justice website, here.