Did you know?…
POLICE CALLOUTS
NZ Police attend an average of one callout every 3.5 minutes. (NZ Police)
partner violence
1 in 3 women experience physical and/or sexual abuse from a male (ex)partner in their lifetime. Most of these women who experienced intimate partner violence also had dependent children. (Fanslow et al, 2019)
NZ GAY LESBIAN BISEXUAL ADULTS
Gay, lesbian or bisexual adults are more than twice as likely than the NZ average to experience intimate partner violence and sexual violence. (NZ Crime and Victims Survey, Oct 2018-Sept 2019)
MOST IS UNREPORTED
76% of family violence incidents are NOT reported to Police (NZ Crime and Safety Survey 2014).
IMPACT ON CHILDREN
Children exposed to domestic violence have similar or worse longterm health impacts than children who are physically abused. (Edleson, 1999)
For more research and information on domestic violence go to:
NZ Family Violence Clearinghouse
Within a relationship, it is normal to disagree and argue. You should be able to disagree without fear for your safety. It is not OK to feel threatened, too frightened, or unsafe to disagree or express your opinion or make decisions about your own life.
People who are abused by someone close to them often feel as though they are doing something to deserve it. Nobody deserves to be humiliated, isolated, controlled, hurt or frightened.
We all have the right to live with dignity, free from violence, fear and someone else controlling our life.
For a deeper understanding of domestic or family violence:
- What is the legal definition of family or domestic violence?
- The nature of intimate partner violence – coercive control and entrapment.
- Some examples of behaviours used to coerce and control intimate partners.
- Strangulation in the context of domestic violence.
- How people who experience domestic violence respond and resist.
- Trade-offs and risks involved in separating from an abusive partner.
Read about getting help, and how to help:
- Some ideas for planning for safety & wellbeing: during an abusive relationship, while planning to separate and after separation
- About protection orders & the family court
- Workplace safety & paid leave
- Support to stop using abusive behaviours
- How to help someone you know
- Read about Shine services
Learn more about domestic violence and relevant laws and services
Here are some ideas:
- All of the information above and more is available in our Safer Homes booklet – download a free pdf or order printed copies
- Read Follow My Lead Aotearoa resource
- Attend one or more Shine RESPOND family violence response trainings for community professionals and practitioners; Level 1 Introductory Training; Level 2 Foundational Skills; Level 3 Advanced Training and Specialist Topic trainings
- Book a Shine expert to deliver an inhouse training to your team to raise general awareness: book for community organisations or email us for business organisations
- Visit the NZ Family Violence Clearinghouse website and subscribe to monthly news or news & event alerts