Breaking the cycle of violence: The numbers behind 'a hidden pandemic'

Thursday, 25 November 2021

Anti-violence movement She Is Not Your Rehab helped launch the #DearTeamOfFiveMillion media conference on Thursday. (File photo)

A call about family harm is made to police every four minutes – and if all incidents of such violence were reported, such a call would be made every minute of the day.

In Canterbury alone, there were almost 13,000 reports of such issues in the past year.

The stark figures of the “hidden pandemic” of family violence in Aotearoa came to light during an initiative to highlight the problem, triggered by a letter to The Press by a reader last year.

Led by Matt and Sarah Brown, founders of anti-violence movement She Is Not Your Rehab, family violence workers came together for the #DearTeamOfFiveMillion media conference in Christchurch on Thursday, which was White Ribbon Day, which marks the global effort to end violence against women and girls.

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Christchurch barber Matt Brown held a series of hui around New Zealand aimed at helping men.

Among those speaking were representatives from the police, Corrections and the Battered Women's Trust.

Matt Brown, who started My Fathers Barber in Christchurch to help men heal and connect with each other, is among those trying to break the cycle of violence in young men.

As a survivor of physical and sexual violence, Brown said he had “come to know hundreds of men with a story like mine” and that “shame, pain and trauma do not discriminate”.

The media conference was held on White Ribbon Day – the United Nation’s international day for the elimination of violence against women.

“The generation of silence and keeping shameful things secret is over … let’s be a part of a new culture that normalises vulnerability and having courageous conversations about hard things,” he said.

“If we can each do this as a nation then it could make a difference to this hidden pandemic of violence and abuse that has robbed us now for generations.”

The initiative was sparked by Christchurch resident Carol Penfold’s letter to Stuff last year.

She suggested the impact a media conference could have if statistics for family violence were presented in a similar way to the daily numbers relating to Covid-19.

Lois Herbert, chief executive of the Battered Women's Trust, says family violence is an issue that “affects us all”.

She was shocked to hear a year later that one would be held on White Ribbon Day.

Speaking at the conference, senior constable Mark Boddy said a family harm call was made to police every four minutes.

Thirty-seven calls were made in the last 24 hours to Canterbury police, while 12,760 family violence reports were made in the past year.

However, it is estimated only a quarter of incidents are ever reported, he said.

Police support manager Mark Boddy says 12,760 family violence reports were made in the past year in Canterbury.

“If we did receive a call every time there was a family harm incident, we would receive a call every single minute right here in New Zealand. That’s 1440 calls in a single day.”

Lois Herbert, chief executive of the Battered Women’s Trust, said family violence was something that “affects us all”.

The organisation receives an average of 43 crisis calls a week in Christchurch, working with 4752 women and children in the city in the last year.

As a victim of domestic violence herself, Herbert said there was no mould for what such a person looked like.

“Women who are educated and successful, women of all ages and ethnicities – I have had them all come to refuge for support from every single neighbourhood.”

Family violence was also strongly linked to victims of sexual violence.

Maggy Tai Rākena, manager of anti-sexual violence agency START, said one in three woman and one in seven men experienced sexual violence.

Many prisoners were also victims of sexual violence, and while 75 per cent of the prison population had convictions for violence, many were both perpetrators and victims of violence, Corrections manager Barletta Butler said.

“Fifty-two per cent of our women and 22 per cent of men in our prisons have personal history of trauma and long-time diagnoses of post-traumatic stress disorder,” she said.

Boddy said his work entailed supporting offenders who had underlying issues like addiction and trauma, and empathy played a huge part.

“I encourage you also, our team of five million, to have empathy for those who are stuck in a cycle of trauma and violence, needing help.

“Every member of our community matters, and it’s up to us collectively to support each other.”

Where to get help for domestic violence

Women’s Refuge 0800 733 843 (females only)
Aviva (Canterbury-based 24-hour support line) – free call 0800 284 82669.
Shine Free call 0508 744 633 between 9am and 11pm (for men and women)
1737, Need to talk? Free call or text 1737 to talk to a trained counsellor.
Kidsline 0800 54 37 54 for people up to 18 years old. Open 24/7.
What’s Up 0800 942 8787 (for 5 to 18-year-olds). Phone counselling available Monday-Friday, noon-11pm and weekends, 3pm-11pm. Online chat is available 3pm-10pm daily.
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.

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