What is Happening at Shine

The Homicide Report is an analysis and interactive database of homicides in New Zealand put together by investigative reporters at Stuff. To help provide context the reporters have spoken with New Zealanders affected by, or working in, domestic violence. Here is a selection of Stuff articles with comment from experts at Shine, including GM Jane Drumm and DVFREE Policy Advisor Holly Carrington. 

Seventy homicides a year sounds like a lot, but is it, really? Stuff, 14 May 2019

What is overkill, and why is it so common in New Zealand? Stuff, 16 May 2019

Ann Yesler: a forgotten victim of intimate partner violence, Stuff, 19 May 2019

Government has announced a funding package of $320 million over four years to address family violence and sexual violence. Shine GM Jane Drumm says, “This is by far the most significant investment in tackling these issues in New Zealand and feels like a real step forward. On the one hand I’m thrilled. On the other hand, I feel like it is about time. Far too many people have suffered for far too long.”

Read the Government's Wellbeing Budget Report 2019 Family Violence and Sexual Violence Package (external link pdf)

Shine’s DVFREE Advisor Holly Carrington, domestic violence survivor ‘Danielle’, and NZ Family Violence Clearinghouse's Janet Fanslow discuss domestic violence as a workplace issue and what employers can do to address it.

Listen to the discussion on the Two Cents’ Worth podcast, Radio NZ (first 12 minutes of podcast)

Take on the ASB Auckland Marathon on the 20th of October 2019 with Team Shine
and change a life.  

Marathon 42.2km
Half Marathon 21.1km
Traverse 12km
Kids Run 2.2km

Sign up to Team Shine here and help the team raise $20,000 to help victims of domestic violence get safe and stay safe.

Join the team by setting up your own fundraising page here and ask your friends and family to sponsor your Auckland Marathon.  

We challenge you personally to raise over $1,000 to change lives in your community.  In return, we will give you: 

• fundraising support
• a chance to meet and train with other Team Shine members
• invites to pre Marathon events 
• plus, we’ll look after you at the finish line!

Just in case you need more motivation...

• For every $250 raised, you will cover the cost of a crisis callout to a victim’s home in response to an urgent police or hospital referral
• When you have raised $500 we will give you a free ‘I Don’t Sweat, I Shine*’ running t-shirt
• When you have raised $1,000 we will refund your entry fee to the Auckland Marathon

Remember to register for the Auckland Marathon here and answer NO to the “Do you wish to fundraise for a charity at the ASB Auckland Marathon?”

For more information about the Auckland Marathon and Team Shine, contact Carol Herbert on 021 192 3548. 

Thank you to everyone who took part in Light it Orange this year. You gave and gave and gave some more. You helped to raise $70,000 and counting.

Light it Orange week began at Auckland’s Round the Bays where teams from Cordis Auckland, Suncorp, nursing and chemistry students from University of Auckland, and so many more ran for fun and funds, raising nearly $9,000. It was great to see everyone who trekked up from the finish line to Madills Park to enjoy post-race camaraderie at the Shine tent. Thanks to Cordis for supplying water and sausages for the BBQ.

Workplaces, such as Westpac, Stuff, Suncorp, Bell Gully , 4Sight Consulting, and AA Insurance, held a myriad of ‘orange’ events during Light it Orange week. Schools, such as Westlake Boys High School, Mount Albert Grammar, Green Bay High School and Kamo Intermediate, helped to shine a light on domestic violence and raise thousands of dollars.

More events took place throughout March, including V-Day performances of The Vagina Monologues which raised $8,000 for KIDshine supporting children escaping domestic violence. A huge thank you to Mary Granfors and her team of volunteers, cast, crew and sponsors for their commitment and passion.

If you still have donations that you've yet to pay in please contact CarolH@2shine.org.nz

Comedy queen Laura Daniel has chosen Shine as her charity for this season’s Dancing with the Stars on Three. You can support Laura and Shine by watching Three’s Dancing with the Stars live and voting - text 'Laura' to 3333. You could even host a Watch Party with your family and friends as a fundraiser.

Laura supported Shine last year donating her time and talent to a comedy show raising funds for victims of domestic violence. Shine is thrilled to be Laura’s chosen charity.

When it comes to punchlines, funny girl Laura Daniel never misses a beat - but will her impeccable comedic timing translate to the dancefloor?

Trading jokes for jives, Laura comes to Dancing with the Stars with a long history of keeping people entertained. The ‘Palmy proud’ comedy queen has been a regular feature on Kiwi screens for many years as part of the core cast of Three’s much-loved Funny Girls and Jono & Ben as well as a regular guest panellist on 7 Days.

Laura, who is a two-times Billy T award nominee, is also part of the musical comedy duo Two Hearts alongside partner and co-writer Joseph Moore. The pair have performed their theatrical spectacular to audiences in Auckland, Melbourne and Edinburgh.

No stranger to putting on a good show, the multi-talented comedian is ready to take to the dancefloor and show New Zealand an endearing new side to her.

Laura says of her foray into the world of competitive dancing: “Even though I’ve only been dancing for like a week, the Dancing with the Stars team already consider me a professional dancer - can’t wait to see what celebrity they give me!”

Watch Three’s Dancing with the Stars live – Sundays at 7pm and Mondays at 7.30pm – and support Laura and Shine. #TeamLaura #DWTSNZ

If you’re a Westpac customer, you have a new way to pay – Apple Pay. If you tap and pay 5 times by 2 May 2019 **EXTENDED TO 16 MAY,**  Westpac will give you $10 and donate another $10 split between 4 NZ charities, including Shine. All you have to do is pay for whatever you are buying with Apple Pay and Westpac.

So tap and pay with Westpac and Apple Pay five times before 16 MAY 2019 and Westpac will donate to Shine! 

You need to have an eligible Westpac debit or credit Mastercard and an Apple device, e.g. iPhone, iPad or Mac. You can find all the details from Westpac.

Westpac was the first New Zealand employer to get the DVFREE tick awarded by Shine. The DVFREE tick lets you know that an organisation provides a safe and supportive workplace for staff who are experiencing violence at home.

 This March, Westpac staff took part in Light it Orange putting on events and activities to raise awareness and funds for Shine. Thank you Westpac! 

On Monday April 1st, the Domestic Violence Victims Protection Act became active. Shine experts were interviewed by Nine to Noon, Newshub (TV3 news), The AM Show, The Project and Stuff about what employers can and should be doing to support staff who experience domestic violence. Shine's Holly Carrington also wrote a column for The Spinoff. Some key points Shine made were:

• It's critical to have appropriate people as 'First Responders, who are trained by specialists and prepared to respond safely to staff disclosures of domestic violence.
• It's critical to help staff with workplace safety planning who are at risk of ongoing abuse.
• Shine's DVFREE workplace programme offers FREE Guidelines for Policy & Procedures that provide helpful and practical advice for employers, available from www.dvfree.org.nz.
• Shine's DVFREE programme provides training for First Responders and for managers - with options to train a group of staff at an employer's venue, or for individuals to register for one of their open workshops in Auckland or Wellington, and soon in Christchurch as well.
• Employees and employers can seek support, information and advice from Shine's specialist tollfree Helpline 0508-744-633, answered 7 days a week, 9am to 11pm.

Listen to Holly Carrington on Nine to Noon

Watch the AM Show interview with Holly (video and article)

Watch Pip Ross on The Project (on Facebook)

Read Stuff article with comment from Holly 

Don’t be the employer that asks for proof of domestic violence

Domestic violence is often invisible in the workplace until victims feel reassured that it is safe—and worthwhile—to disclose. So it’s easy for employers to believe it doesn’t happen ‘in my business’ or ‘in this sector’.

Possibly the most important thing an employer can do is to appoint the right people as ‘first responders’, and provide these people with specialist training. The second important step to take is to make sure that all staff know they can go to one of these people for help and support if they are experiencing domestic violence.

The law also allows employers to require ‘proof’ of the domestic violence before responding to such requests. Shine strongly urges employers to NOT require such proof. This is akin to telling an employee experiencing domestic violence that ‘we will not believe you’, and will stop people from requesting this support…

A number of large employers like Westpac and Stuff have been offering paid domestic violence leave without requiring proof for a couple of years or more. These employers vouch that the uptake is low, generally in increments of hours or 1-2 days, with no suspected or known instances of employees lying about their situation to access this leave.”

Read Holly’s full article in The Spinoff

During Light It Orange week (March 3-9), Stuff became the first media company to get a DVFREE Tick from Shine. Ali Mau’s column on March 6th talked about the steps taken by Stuff, with support from Shine, to introduce a comprehensive staff domestic violence programme. She also shares the story of a Stuff employee to illustrate why the programme is needed and how much difference positive workplace support can make for someone in crisis. 

With a programme now that helps raise awareness, and provides clear help-seeking pathways through 'first responders' who've received specialist training, the hope is that more Stuff staff experiencing domestic violence will get the help they need to become safe and heal.

**TRIGGER WARNING** On the night it all ended, she was certain she would die as he came home drunk, woke her up and threw her around the apartment. When she was able to escape she drove straight to her mum's place and as dawn broke and the police had been and gone, she called her boss and said I can't come in today, something bad's happened....

Read Ali Mau's column

**TRIGGER WARNING** " I don't think I'd be alive if I didn't speak to Shine," says ‘Jessica’. 

DONATE NOW at www.lightitorange.co.nz to help more victims of domestic violence like 'Jessica' get safe and stay safe. 

Read more on the NZ Herald