Shine In the Media

During the latest lockdown in Auckland,  Shine saw unprecedented demand for its services and a rise in the most severe violence. Shine staff talk about what they're dealing with on the frontline:

Watch: Domestic violence increase during Auckland’s Alert Level 3 sees unprecedented demand for refuges, 1News, August 2020

Read: Domestic violence increases rapidly in New Zealand - strangulation, beatings 'commonplace' in 2020, NZ Herald, September 2020

Recent research by The Backbone Collective has highlighted the lack of long term support for survivors of domestic violence. Shine’s Holly Carrington talked to STUFF and RNZ about why it’s so hard for victims to leave.

Read: I was a shell of a human': Why family violence victims don't just leave, stuff.co.nz, August 2020

Listen: Study on how difficult it is for domestic violence victims to leave, RNZ’s The Panel, August 2020

As part of Techweek NZ  2020, panellists including Shine's own Kara-dee Morden discussed the role of technology in domestic abuse and how technology organisations can design and develop safer digital environments.

View the panel discussion on Play Stuff: Empower through design: how technology and design can combat domestic violence (30 mins)

Shine’s Holly Carrington also spoke to the Herald about technology-facilitated abuse: The dark side of smart technology: Enabling domestic abuse, NZ Herald, 29 July 2020

In the above media, IBM’s Lesley Nuttall outlines specific principles to employ in designing technology to make it resistant to being used as a tool for abuse. If you or someone you know is experiencing technology-facilitated abuse and you are seeking support, please read on:

If you’re a victim of this type of abuse it’s important to know:

• It is not your fault. No one deserves to have their life restricted and choices taken away from them to keep someone else from abusing them.
• You don’t have to go through this alone. Trust your instincts and seek help. For more information see safe use of technology and/or phone 0508 744 633 for advice.

If you’re seeking for ways to support someone else, remember:

• Understand that people experiencing abuse will be doing things to keep themselves safe. Respect their experience.
• Listen, don’t give advice before hearing their experience; don’t blame the victim.
• Keep checking in; the situation will not change overnight.
• Seek advice from Netsafe and Shine. See safe use of technology.
• If the issues are at work, consider looking into how to make your workplace a safer environment. Visit the DVFREE website for more information.

Technology can also be used as a tool to keep you safe and sane:

• Connect with safe people for support
• Look up information and develop safety plans
• Collect evidence of abuse.

If you're unsure of what to do or who to turn to, please call Shine's helpline 0508 744 633 (open daily, 9am-11pm).

While reported crime overall was down during the Covid-19 lockdown, Shine and other agencies supporting family violence victims saw an escalation in high risk incidents. Shine policy advisor Holly Carrington told Stuff the lockdown had exacerbated feelings of entrapment.

Coronavirus: Death of Auckland baby sheds light on unreported violence during Covid-19 lockdown, Stuff, May 2020

Holly Carrington also spoke with Stuff about Shine's It isn't Always Obvious campaign and how friends and family can spot the subtle signs of abuse in a loved one's relationship.

Domestic violence: How to spot the signs of an abusive relationship, Stuff, June 2020 

The coronavirus pandemic may see a rise in domestic violence incidents, according to Police and family violence specialists. Home is not a safe place for everyone, especially for domestic violence victims who may have to work from home or self-isolate at home with a partner who is abusive.

Shine's Holly Carrington told Stuff news that 'as people became isolated from family, friends and support networks, they would be more at risk of abuse. She urged people to be proactive in keeping in contact with family, friends and neighbours, even if they couldn't see them face to face.'

As reported in The Spinoff, 'People experiencing domestic violence in the lockdown period can be assured that crisis services will be available. Both Women’s Refuge and Shine have joined a working group to put in place extra support, which may include motel accommodation and increased remote services.' 

In the New Zealand Herald Holly said not only do we need to look out for each other but also take care about how we check on a person's safety, as it was 'likely abusive partners would be listening in on phone calls and monitoring text messages or emails during the lockdown.'

You can read the full article on Stuff: Coronavirus: Police plan for spike in family violence

And the full article on The Spinoff: Where do domestic violence victims go during the COVID-19 lockdown?

You can read the full article in the New Zealand Herald online: Covid 19 coronavirus: Family violence tipped to rise, but help services are there 24/7 during lockdown

If you're concerned about having to work from home or self-isolate at home with an abusive partner please call the Shine helpline 0508744633 to discuss how to stay safe. It's free from any phone in NZ. Open daily 9am-11pm.

Other helpline options are Women's Refuge at 0800 733 843,  

and Are You OK Infoline at 0800 456 450.  

 Shine was delighted to host Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall and representatives from organisations working to end domestic violence and support victims last Tuesday. 

The Duchess of Cornwall is committed to highlighting the issue of domestic violence and lending her support to the work of domestic violence agencies, like Shine. The Duchess hoped her visit would shine a light in the media on domestic violence.

“It’s so important for voices to be heard. When I sat down and listened to some of these tales they were just shocking, shocking. Hopefully today we can up the ante.”

Representatives from the NZ Police and Te Roopu O Te Whanau Rangimarie O Tamaki Makaurau were present, as were Westpac and the Ministry of Justice, early adopters of Shine’s DVREE workplace training to support people experiencing domestic violence.

In a private meeting with the representatives at Shine, The Duchess heard about topics specific to New Zealand including recent changes to legislation, such as the new offence of strangulation and the increased workplace obligations, and culturally responsive services for Maori in responding to domestic violence.

Shine GM Jane Drumm spoke to Radio New Zealand prior to The Duchess of Cornwall's visit. Jane said The Duchess of Cornwall's visit represents a huge shift in attitudes towards family violence.

"[Twenty years ago] when I first started family violence was a secret, it was hidden. No one wanted to talk about it. And now we have got a member of the Royal Family, who is not only interested in the UK but actually has made a point of visiting two separate family violence organisations in New Zealand. And is wanting to talk about it and raise awareness as a member of the Royal Family but also as a woman. And I could not have imagined that twenty years ago or even ten years ago."

You can listen to the Radio New Zealand interview here.

A selection of other online media coverage of the Royal Visit:

Watch a video of the visit on The Herald Online.

Watch TVNZ 1News (Shine visit starts at 1:29)

Read nowtolove.co.nz article 

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

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

Congrats to the Ministry of Justice for being the second organisation and the first public sector employer to receive Shine's DVFREE Tick for their domestic violence staff programme. Shine's Jill Proudfoot and Holly Carrington presented a DVFREE Tick certificate to Ministry Chief Executive Andrew Bridgman this afternoon.
Meeting the DVFREE Tick criteria ensures an effective help-seeking pathway for employees who are experiencing domestic abuse, and also helps staff know what to do if they know or suspect a colleague is experiencing, or perpetrating, domestic violence.
With strong support from leadership, a team of people at the Ministry put in a lot of hard work and went beyond the DVFREE Tick requirements in training nearly all of their managers throughout the country in just a matter of months (the Tick allows large employers several years to reach a threshold of 90% of managers being trained). They are now embarking on face to face domestic violence training for all of their 3800 staff. Andrew Bridgman is urging other public sector organisations to follow its lead.

To learn more about DVFREE and the DVFREE Tick, go to www.dvfree.org.nz

See Stuff article 

See HRM online article

A woman badly beaten by her husband says her 5-year-old daughter saved her life by walking in and witnessing the attack. ‘Kristen’ tells her story and how she was helped by Shine. Kristen supported Shine's annual Light It Orange campaign, raising almost $4000 for the charity to enable them to help more children living in abusive homes.

Read the full story on the NZ Herald

The teen spoke out about his abusive upbringing because he wants to raise awareness about family violence and let people know what it's like for kids growing up in volatile and fear-filled homes. The 18-year-old and his mother and siblings turned to Shine about five years ago.. Shine's Light It Orange national appeal runs for a week from March 3. Shine’s Holly Carrington said people who think they don't know anyone who's experienced family violence need to understand that they probably do.

Read the NZ Herald article

Shine General Manager and former Executive Director Jane Drumm was named a Companion of the Queen’s Service Order in 2018 for services to victims of domestic violence. “Ms Jane Drumm has provided support for victims of domestic violence for more than 20 years.”

Read more on the website of DPMC (Dept. of the Prime Minister and Cabinet)

‘Although it is an issue that doesn't only affect women, for a business like ours, which employs more than 2700 women, family violence is a real and serious issue for a number of our staff…We collaborated with domestic violence support charity Shine to ensure our approach followed best practice and have now been formally recognised as New Zealand's first Domestic Violence Free (DVFREE) employer with the DVFREE Tick.’

Watch the video and read the opinion piece on the NZ Herald

'..Rebecca and those like her get punished for their partners' behaviour — unfairly. Shine aims to help bosses and colleagues notice and help domestic abuse victims, through a new programme called the DVFree Tick…On Tuesday, Westpac became the first DVFree certified business.’ 

Read the full article on stuff.co.nz

In December, Westpac NZ, in partnership with Shine, New Zealand’s largest non-profit organisation that helps people who’ve suffered from domestic abuse, launched an online education portal that businesses can use to raise awareness of the issue with their employees.

Read the full article here.

Survivor advocate Louise Nicholas says she was "gutted" by Paul Henry's latest comments about women and would be happy to give him some "education" about sexism. She said the TV3 breakfast host's comments to Herald writer Greg Bruce about the "perfect titties" of a woman at a nearby table during an interview for Canvas magazine were "disgusting". "I've done a number of interviews with Paul Henry around sexual violence and he's been extremely good and knowledgeable, and that's why it's so disappointing that he has gone so far as to say that about women," Nicholas said. She did not agree with commentator Brian Edwards that the Canvas interview should be "career-ending" for Henry, but she said he clearly needed more education.

Read more on NZ Herald
Read Paul Henry: "I meant no harm" article on Stuff

Shines Jill Proudfoot and Mary McGee talk about working for Shine and dealing with domestic violence on a daily basis. Tackling the enormous problem of domestic violence can start with a simple word of encouragement, Mary McGee says. "Don't give up hope," she tells those caught in the grip of abuse. Don't give up believing that you can be safe. You deserve better than this."

Read more here at Stuff.co.nz.

NZ Herald |

TV star speaks out in support of domestic abuse charity 

Sitting next to her partner in a crowded bar, Katherine Kennard focused her attention on the TV screen.

It was always the safest option.

Except on this night, when another man innocently stood between her and the TV - and her partner saw him. 

"That was a bad night," the former Nothing Trivial actress said as she spoke publicly for the first time about the four years she was trapped in an abusive relationship. 

Kennard is a familiar face on TV screens after playing the scheming ex-wife of Nothing Trivial lead character Mac and for her roles on Underbelly, Spartacus and Street Legal. 

Now she has starred in a short film for national domestic abuse charity Shine. The film was shown at the organisation's 25th birthday celebration last night, at which June Steenkamp, the mother of Reeva Steenkamp - killed by partner Oscar Pistorius - spoke. 

Read more in the NZ Herald