Māori women leaving violent relationships say social services 'hostile' towards them

Thursday, 5 December 2019

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announces $320m for family and sexual violence support services.

Māori women who left violent partners have reported finding social services 'unhelpful' and 'hostile' towards them.

Some returned to dysfunctional homes because they couldn't get the help they needed.

An AUT study, E Tū Wāhine, E Tū Whānau, released on Thursday details the experiences of 28 women, aged between 16 to 61, who left violent relationships. It found Māori women are more likely to bear the harmful consequences of violence and family violence-related homicide.

The women in the study all suffered physical abuse, some talked about sexual violence, and many are still dealing with ongoing psychological trauma. The violence was often extreme repetitive head injury from being punched or smashed into walls, and non-fatal strangulation.

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Nearly a third of the women became violent in response to their partner's cruelty. Just under half of their tamariki were also abused and threatened. Drugs and alcohol featured in most of the relationships.

Professor Denise Wilson said, family violence is an area where people are often quick to judge, blaming its victims, especially if they are Māori women. It further isolates them from the support they need, at times when they need help the most.

Co-author Professor Denise Wilson said family violence is an area where people are often quick to judge, blaming victims, especially Māori women. It further isolates them from the support they need, at times when they need help the most. The participants felt social services weren't there to help them because they were Māori.

'These women already feel whakamā (ashamed) about their situation,' Wilson said. 'They feel they've failed in their relationships because they're having to seek help. They are very aware of how people in agencies and services may view Māori, particularly violent women, who've been in violent relationships.'

Through the participants' stories, the researchers were able to paint a picture of the very complex, multi-layered and often contradictory nature of family violence. Over time all of the women became trapped by their own fears and capabilities, their partners' behaviour, social workers and accessibility to social services.

One woman in the study said, 'Why didn't I ask for help? The mere thought of going to organisations for help, engendered a sense of dread and hatred – I knew I wouldn't be welcome and the people in them were always quick to judge me.'

'The simple truth is, I didn't feel vulnerable getting the bash or being scared. I felt totally vulnerable having to go to organisations and ask for help.'

Many women would endure the relationships because they were ashamed and fearful to reach out for help, Wilson said. The shame was from feeling judged by people working in social services and not being able to access the services they needed.

'A lot of safety plans say to go to Women's Refuge but we found in some areas Māori women can't get into the refuges.'

She said the women felt they had been turned away because they were Māori. Wilson wouldn't say which refuge because she didn't want to compromise the anonymity of the participants.

The National Collective of Independent Women's Refuges Chief Executive Dr Ang Jury was distressed by the accusation but said it was hard to address it without knowing the details. She's invited Wilson and the participants to speak with her in confidence about what happened.

'If these women have been let down by any one of our refuges that would be of immense concern to us and such a failure would be dealt with as a matter of the utmost priority,' she said.

Professor Denise Wilson said the greatest fear for the participants wasn't the violent men. It was asking for help and their children being taken by Oranga Tamariki.

'No-one within our organisation would turn someone away on the basis of ethnicity.'

It's not just Women's Refuge that's come up short said Wilson. Other services have turned the women away too.

The greatest fear for the women in the study wasn't the violent men. It was asking for help and their children being taken by Oranga Tamariki.

'I recall the days where I've felt like a beaten-up dog on the ground, and I can tell you who made me feel like that. It was a little Oranga Tamariki social worker,' said a woman who received a court order to take her baby when it was born.

Eleven of the 28 participants came into direct contact with Oranga Tamariki, eight had their children removed, five were still waiting to get them back.

Oranga Tamariki has received the report and will consider it fully over coming weeks. Deputy Chief Executive Hoani Lambert said the research is invaluable. 'I want to acknowledge the courage of these wahine to participate in this research and share their stories.

The solutions for transforming violence in Māori families wasn't in Western-based interventions, said Prof Denise Wilson. Instead the answers lie in using mātaranga Māori (knowledge) within Māori communities.

He said of particular concern were the barriers participants reported to engage with government agencies for fear of judgment and being treated poorly.

'It is important that Oranga Tamariki, along with all government agencies, works to ensure all people who need help, receive the help they need,' said Lambert.

'Oranga Tamariki is working hard to increase its focus on partnerships with iwi and Māori organisations, particularly in the provision of early and intensive intervention services.'

Wilson said the women who engaged with kaupapa Māori service providers talked about having a better experience. 'They felt welcomed, no-one judged them, and the people working in the services understood their realities and were willing to work with them at their pace,' she said.

The Government announced in May it would spend $320m over the next four years on a joint sexual and family violence plan. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the money would be spent on prevention, community responses, specialist services, improving court procedures and leadership.

Wilson wants to see the Māori advisory group Te Rōpū Māori, sitting alongside the joint venture, being given more authority to implement changes for Māori families.

She said the solutions for transforming whānau wasn't in Western-based interventions. Instead the answers lie in using mātaranga Māori (knowledge) within Māori communities.

'The revitalisation of Māori cultural values and tikanga and the restoration of mana within our whānau is crucial.'

WHERE VICTIMS OF FAMILY VIOLENCE CAN GET HELP

Please direct users to the Shielded safe button at the bottom of the site by adding this as a footnote:

Women's Refuge (For women and children) - 0800 733 843.

Shine (For men and women) - free call 0508-744-633 between 9am and 11pm.

1737, Need to talk? Free call or text 1737 any time for mental health support from a trained counsellor

What's Up – 0800 942 8787 (for 5–18 year olds). Phone counselling is available Monday to Friday, midday–11pm and weekends, 3pm–11pm. Online chat is available 7pm–10pm daily.

Kidsline – 0800 54 37 54 for people up to 18 years old. Open 24/7.

Youthline – 0800 376 633, free text 234, email talk@youthline.co.nz, or find online chat and other support options here.

If you or someone else is in immediate danger call 111.