Shine In the Media

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 

An MYOB survey of small & medium sized businesses found nearly half hadn't implemented any domestic violence leave policies despite the law change almost five months ago.  "It would be our hope that this becomes the norm for businesses to have policies," Shine DVFREE and Policy Adviser Holly Carrington told TVNZ's 1 NEWS.

View story and full interview on 1NEWS

Two cases of violence against women made headlines within the first week of August, both involving intimate partner violence. The first involved the conviction of a man for stabbing his former partner. The second involved a man stalking and harassing a woman over a six-month period. Shine GM Jane Drumm was asked to comment on both stories.

**Trigger warning: describes violent attack and details**

Harrowing Auckland stabbing case provides insight into 'endemic' domestic violence,  Stuff, August 2019

Police lose file after Auckland woman complains of stalker's 'terrifying' home invasion,  Stuff, August 2019

Radio New Zealand's The Panel with Wallace Chapman discussed the shocking number of arrests being made as a result of the new family violence laws. Shine's General Manager Jane Drumm says not only does New Zealand have a high rate of family violence but that it's also extreme violence being perpetrated.

You can listen to the full interview here on Radio New Zealand.  

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

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)

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

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

Everyone knows Christmas can be a stressful time for families. Your finances are stretched, your in-laws are staying, so many decisions to make… No wonder people feel overwhelmed. But is this the real cause of family violence over the festive season? Shine spokesperson Holly Carrington shared her thoughts on family violence at Christmas and how to get help in these two interviews.

Family violence Christmas 'peak' started in October, stuff.co.nz

Shine: Christmas can exacerbate domestic violence problems, Newstalk ZB 

The murder of British backpacker Grace Millane provoked outrage and grief amongst the New Zealand public. More than that, it was the catalyst for recognising New Zealand's appalling record of violence against women. While progress is being made at the national level with new family violence legislation and the Government's 'joint venture', which aims to develop a more coordinated response to family violence, it is clear  it will take all of us together as individuals and communities to make a difference.

The need for change was highlighted by the news that the police have charged 28 people with the new offence of strangulation a mere 11 days after it came into effect.

Shine General Manager Jane Drumm was asked for comment by 1News: "As far as I am concerned, any strangulation is an attempt to kill."

Jane Drumm was also interviewed by a number of news organisations following Grace Millane's murder. Her views are based upon more than 20 years working with victims of violence. 

Interview with Mike Hosking, Newstalk ZB: Shine: Grace Millane murder highlights NZ's violence towards women

Anti-violence campaigner in wake of Grace Millane death: Changing Kiwi men's perception of women from 'chattels' to 'human beings', NZ Herald

Kirsty Johnston: I'm angry about Grace Millane's murder after a year reporting on rape, NZ Herald

Anastasia Margaret Neve 
Amber Rose Rush 
Aroha Iolene Kerehoma
Zena Campbell
 Alicia Crawford
Ariana Eva Clara Mahu
Nicole Marie Tuxford
Yanyan Meng 
Demetrius Pairama 
Leigh Kauhoe Wallace
Lynace Parakuku
Keshni Mala Naicker

Grace Emmie-Rose Millane

The new Family Violence (Amendments) Act 2018 fixes a number of gaps in family violence legislation and response. The new act takes effect in two phases with the first phase strengthening criminal law.  Shine’s General Manager Jane Drumm welcomes the new legislation and Government’s efforts to ensure government agencies and service providers work together to deliver a unified approach to dealing with family violence. 

Read the Radio New Zealand article 

From Employment Today Magazine, Oct 2018, by Holly Carrington. ‘Domestic violence costs New Zealand businesses $368 million in lost productivity. Increasingly, however, employers understand that addressing domestic violence has a positive impact in the workplace.’ Holly tells the stories of ‘Abigail’ and ‘Carol’ to illustrate that domestic violence in the workplace is often hidden until something terrible happens, and employers are often totally unprepared to respond effectively. The cost of doing nothing is more than lost productivity – it is also the human toll of fear, anxiety, injury and sometimes death. And employers can make all the difference, with some expert help.

Read the Employment Today article 

Government has announced a new joint venture to resolve family and sexual violence, which brings together chief executives from 10 Government departments, informed by a Māori advisory group and "other stakeholders" to develop and implement a plan, and report on progress to a Parliamentary select committee. Shine’s Jane Drumm welcomed the new joint venture approach.

Read or watch the Newshub story
Read or watch the TVNZ story
Read the NZ Herald story

The Project spoke to Kylie and Michele, inventors of ‘I am Eva’ underwear that manage periods. Five percent of product will be donated to prevent ‘period poverty’ beginning with Shine.

Watch the video from The Project (Shine mention about 2'20)

Featuring issue expert Shine GM Jane Drumm, this in-depth segment looks at the NZ criminal justice response to NZ and why women often stand by men who are violent, looking in particular at the story of John Tanner. It also highlights efforts to combat domestic violence in Victoria, Australia where the government is rolling out a massive, multi-faceted campaign with a $2 billion price tag. According to Jane, "They've realised that in order to get on top of this issue, they are going to have to do a major coherent strategy which will cost a huge amount of $$."

Watch first segment of the programme on TVNZ OnDemand

In the August FYI Magazine for Auckland’s North Shore business community, this article talks about Shine and our DVFREE workplace programme. According to Shine's Cynthia Kawana, "Organisations with effective policy and supports in place can make a huge difference in the lives of their staff at a time of real crisis."

Read the article at http://businessnh.org.nz/webform/keep-up-to-date/#fyimag
Find out more about DVFREE at www.dvfree.org.nz

John and Sarah's story is an example of what can be achieved if staff members step in when they believe a colleague is being abused. This workplace support is now law, after the Domestic Violence - Victims' Protection Bill passed its third reading on July 25. According to Sarah: "The psyche of the abuser is they need 100 per cent control." She feared this could now extend to the workplace, because the abuser wouldn't want to let their partner go to a place where they could readily access help. Shine's Holly Carrington also agreed with Sarah's fears. But on balance she said she believed employers having policies and systems in place to support staff experiencing domestic violence would help far more people than it would hurt.
Read article in Stuff

Shine is proud to be a charity partner of the Vodafone Warriors. This year, the Warriors supported their four charity partners at The Great Vodafone Warriors Charity Game Day on July 22nd. The event was a massive success, raising a total of $71,409 for the four charities through a range of activities - which meant $17,852 raised for Shine.

Thank you to Adrian at Fifth Avenue Diamond Experts for donating an exquisite man’s watch as an auction prize, the awesome Suncorp staff for volunteering on the day, the Warriors team and of course their wonderful fans. 

Ruben Wiki, Warriors assistant strength and conditioning coach, helped to promote the event in an interview with the NZ Herald. 

'Wiki is fiercely passionate about the charity Shine. The 45-year-old's staunch anti-domestic violence stance stems back from his younger days. His mother was a victim to family violence as he was growing up and the pain he saw her endure made him want to move to stop such things happening to other families. "I wanted to speak out against violence against women."

Read NZ Herald article with Warriors legend Ruben Wiki speaking about domestic violence and Shine

The Domestic Violence Victims Protection Act passed today and will come into effect in April 2019. ‘Domestic violence charity Shine said the bill would benefit all employers, including small businesses, through increased productivity and better employee retention. Shine communications manager Holly Carrington said domestic violence was already costing businesses – "not just financially but more importantly the human toll. Without support from their employer, work is not a safe place for victims of domestic violence, and these staff get judged and blamed for resulting performance issues and often end up leaving their job," she said. 

The law requires employers to give victims of domestic violence up to 10 days leave from work, separate from annual leave and sick leave entitlements, making New Zealand the first country in the world to offer this type of leave as a universal entitlement. It also allows workers who are victims of domestic violence to request flexible working arrangements and prohibits being a victim of domestic violence as a grounds for discrimination under the Human Rights Act.

Read Stuff article

Read NZ Herald article

See Newshub story

Listen to Newstalk ZB story

Read UK Guardian story

Read National Public Radio (USA) story

Read Time story

Venus Envy podcast interview with recently retired Shine Senior Advocate Mary McGee about domestic violence in New Zealand, following an interview with Jacinda Ardern on leadership and feminism. Hosted by Noelle McCarthy, and brought to you by The Spinoff in association with Auckland Museum.

Listen to the full interview by scrolling down to 'Venus Envy' then 'Week One'. The interview with Mary McGee starts at 18'55'', and here are her salient points:
"Every Monday, (at Shine) we’d go through the arrest list..of victims, many situations – women have injuries, in hospital with broken bones, teeth knocked out, nasty facial injuries, black eyes. I have seen it all, from the most horrific maimings right down to much ‘lesser’ incidents, but in fact sometimes there’s no correlation between the degree of injury and the effect. I recall a woman after a long period of physical abuse, one day he spat in her face, and that was the final humiliation that caused her to get away from him.

 I can recall so many nasty injuries – sometimes so bad you don’t want to repeat, you don’t want others to have to carry that around in their head. One woman had her bottom lip bitten right off. She’d known this guy only three months. He did not want her away from his side or speaking to anyone else. She spoke to her brother in the car and he did that. It is very serious stuff and it is pandemic. There’s so much of it out there.

I think it’s getting worse, the degree of violence is getting worse… But I still believe it’s a problem with a solution. We can eliminate violence from our society.

I have also worked at the Family Court as a Family Court Coordinator… Seeing injustices perpetrated by the system on women and children just made me really want to work in this field and try and do whatever I could to assist those people…. I couldn’t stay there (at the court) and watch some of the decisions being made… The men’s lobby in the early 90’s persuaded a lot of judges in that direction, but the pendulum still hasn’t swung back to the middle. There are a lot of decisions that are really misogynistic in the Family Court.

It’s a gender issue. That means that the overwhelming percentage of offenders are male. They have a sense of entitlement. The degree of violence, it’s just horrible. It comes from thousands of years of socialization and training. And it’s everywhere. If you work in it you can’t help but be affected…

Men are more likely to be believed than women. That’s why the Backbone Collective has been set up… Men are able to pursue their victims in the Family Court because they often have access to more resources, often don’t have children to look after fulltime, women don’t have same kinds of careers. These men claim to care about their children. I spoke to a woman the other day who was pursued for ten years by her partner through the court. This woman was agreeing with every single thing he suggested, he was wanting everything from the marital property. His applications to the court were not thrown out, they’re heard, given credence.

These men who are offenders are in pain and hurting, probably they were victims themselves as children. They’re angry. They have to get help. It’s not enough to take this out on their women and children, then be forced to leave. There’s so much help out there. There’s counselling and programmes.

 A lot of women give their offending partner chance after chance after chance to redeem themselves. But often they don’t, won’t, can’t.

I would love to see more decent men helping the women sort this out. Such as male employers giving victims time off work to sort stuff out. Men training to deliver programmes, big buddy guys for young men, all kinds of political work – like lobbying government for money for agencies like Shine, lobbying advertising agencies to think hard about what they’re putting out there, assisting people like Denise Ritchie at ECPAT. Thousands of women volunteers are working with this stuff but not men so much. 

Domestic violence - people in New Zealand don’t know how prevalent it is. It really is a big problem. It’s the blue bit in the flame at the centre, all the other problems come from this.
We have clients from very wealthy situations, it’s in all socioeconomic areas, but it is more prevalent in lower socioeconomic areas. This could be because women with money can get out of relationships more easily. They can go stay in a motel, they can work out their own plan of escape without calling the police.

Often it’s a lack of resources. If I’m a woman with three children and my partner isn’t working, I’m living on a benefit, only just got enough money to feed the children, how am I going to make a substantive plan to get myself and my children - in one piece - out of a dangerous situation…

It’s very difficult to leave. Even women without violence in their relationship find it difficult to leave a partner. Just think about how much more difficult it is to leave if you’re scared, if he’s threatened to kill you if you leave, if he’s threatened to hurt the children if you leave him.

Often these kids (in homes where there is domestic violence) are living with cortisol rushing through their bodies all the time. They’re living in a state of fight, flight or freeze. They’re scared, they can’t concentrate at school, they can’t eat properly, they’re not clothed properly, there’s no money. Often these guys are taking the money and spending it. The children – it’s a very difficult and sad thing, shocking.

Most New Zealanders have no idea this is going on. Most Monday mornings in Auckland, in court there’ll be 10-20 men having been arrested for assaults on their families. This is just in Auckland central policing district.

If everybody decided to really work together – judiciary, legislators, police, agencies, etc. I’m sure we would see a major difference. They say they are working together. There’s not really a real commitment, a powerful interest in changing this.

This happens because of the way men are thinking about women and about themselves and their role. I think we can change the way we think. It’s not an imperative that men beat up their partner. They can change the way they think if they want to."

Shine says that the Domestic Violence - Victims' Protection Bill will benefit all employers, including small businesses, through increased productivity and better employee retention. ‘Domestic violence is already costing our businesses - not just financially but more importantly the human toll. Without support from their employer, work is not a safe place for victims of domestic violence, and these staff get judged and blamed for resulting performance issues and often end up leaving their job.,’ says Holly. ‘Businesses without a domestic violence programme are not playing their part to stop domestic violence, and there’s also a cost in lost productivity and additional staff recruitment.’

Read article in Voxy

The Working Group is chaired by Dame Silvia Cartwright and members include Shine GM Jane Drumm. The Group was established mid-April following widespread allegations of sexual harassment, bullying and discrimination within the legal profession, combined with a culture of silence and under-reporting of such misconduct.. The Group is inviting people to share their thoughts and ideas as to what changes and improvements can be made by emailing workinggroup@lawsociety.org.nz

Read article from Law Society website

Team Cordis Orange will be riding for the charity Shine, one of Cordis Auckland’s selected charities for 2018, and aims to raise $1000. Awesome! If you or your work colleagues are taking on your own challenge, why not make it more meaningful and ask friends and family to sponsor your efforts to help victims of domestic violence? For more information contact Carol at CarolH@2shine.org.nz or 021-192- 3548.

Read article from Travel Inc.

Shine director Jane Drumm supported Justice Muir's strong statement against domestic violence after convicted murderer Turiarangi Tai was sentenced yesterday to at least 17 years' jail for killing his girlfriend Chozyn Koroheke with a shotgun, after a month of vicious attacks on her. Ms Drumm said New Zealand had the worst rates of domestic violence in the OECD and it was "nothing to be proud of". The country needed to start thinking about the way it was bringing up boys and its attitudes to violence. Further funding had to be allocated to front line support staff and nationwide programmes, similar to the anti-smoking campaign, Ms Drumm said.
Go to Radio NZ story  |   Go to TVNZ story

Shortland Street's writing team drew on research and personal experience when crafting their domestic violence storyline, including consulting with Shine. Shine’s Holly Carrington congratulated Shortland Street for "shining a light" on the issue of domestic violence. She said that by involving two doctors the storyline highlighted that domestic violence could be experienced or perpetrated by people of any socio-economic status.

Read Stuff article

Read NZ Herald article

"We have been hearing promises of funding increases for such a long time now, it's actually hard to believe that it is going to happen," Shine’s spokeswoman Holly Carrington said. "And while a 30 per cent increase is still not nearly enough to meet the demand..it is significant and it will make a difference. It will also be a huge boost to the morale of all the very hardworking frontline family violence specialist staff across the country who have felt undervalued by our society for so long."

Read NZ Herald article 

Shine spokesperson Jill Proudfoot said suicidal thoughts were common among those who had experienced or witnessed family violence… she wanted more focus on the link between family violence and suicide. "When we talk about youth suicide, I hear people say we need more mental health services for these youth, but... what they really need is a safe home," she said.

Listen to Radio NZ audio

Read Radio NZ article

Spokeswoman for Shine, Holly Carrington, said there needed to be more education around the dangers of shaking babies. "We need to get to the point as a society where there's enough education ... that no one can say that they didn't know." These two babies will suffer the rest of their lives because of being shaken as infants.

Read NZ Herald article

Guy Williams, ambassador for Shine, points out a missed opportunity for Tony Veitch, worries that some viewers see Jake the Muss as ‘the man,’ and reminds readers how bad the problem is and how much charities like Shine need donations.

Read Guy’s opinion piece

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

Chozyn Koroheke suffered brutal violence at the hands of her partner Turiarangi Tai for months before he shot and killed her. Shine's Jill Proudfoot said a "horrifying" number of family violence incidents lead to death.

Read the full article on stuff.co.nz

A man who beat his baby son around his face and head then jammed a solid object in his mouth causing significant injuries has been sentenced to 9 months home detention. Shine spokeswoman Holly Carrington was shocked by the case. "Nine months home detention and community work seem a totally inadequate sentence," she said.

Read the full article on the NZ Herald

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

This horrific case of child abuse came to light following a doctor's alert. Shine’s Holly Carrington said, "Domestic violence and child abuse are health issues and they need to be seen as health issues. Any doctor should be looking for signs of child abuse and reacting appropriately when they see it."

Read the full article on Stuff.co.nz

This story, told by a woman on her deathbed, highlights failings of the Family Court to protect victims of domestic violence. Justice Minister Andrew Little announces a ministerial review of the Family court. Shine’s Jill Proudfoot comments on "Successive Governments have said 'we're working on it, things are getting better' but actually most women's experience is that they're not."

Read the stuff.co.nz article "She thought the court would protect her".

This article talks about when she challenges the Family Court.

Jan Logie, Undersecretary to the Minister of Justice tasked with domestic and sexual violence, made a speech to the sexual and domestic violence prevention sector on International Women’s Day, hosted by Shine during Light It Orange week. Logie said she recognised the organisations had been pressing for progress on gendered violence for decades. She also said that workforce training which all Ministry of Justice staff have undertaken with Shine was an example of a useful approach involving sharing of information between sectors.

Read the NZ Herald article

Today marks the start of Light it Orange week, a nationwide campaign working to raise $100,000 to help victims of family violence. The campaign is run by Shine, and throughout the week schools, workplaces, and clubs are set to get involved.

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 Services Manager Jill Proudfoot says when refuges are full, women have no choice and end up locking themselves in boarding house bedrooms… Proudfoot says the women in these situations have already been abused or are recovering from addiction issues and need somewhere safe to live. 

Read the Newstalk ZB 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)

Holly Carrington, of the group Shine..said McLean's killing of Verity was a selfish act. "It sounds very much like Ben McLean's mentality was 'If I can't have you, no one can' and that in his eyes, her not wanting to be with him meant that she deserved to die. Even worse, Ben McLean's children have to live without their mother for the rest of their lives and they have to live knowing that it was their own father who killed her. It's unconscionable that he didn't think of this until after he killed his wife, or that if he did, that it wasn't enough to stop him." 

Read the NZ Herald article

Those who want help can call the Shine helpline on 0508 744 633, which is monitored 9am to 11pm, seven days a week, including the holiday season. The deaf, hard of hearing, or speech impaired can call this number using the NZ Relay service.

Read the full article on stuff.co.nz

Rebecca Kendrick, of Pakuranga, has held a variety of local, regional and national leadership roles in GirlGuiding NZ for 12 years, and was elected as the young leader representative to the national board in 2016. She's also an active member of Shine. 

Read full story on stuff.co.nz

A domestic violence service provider has said we need to change our attitudes towards child abuse.

The Coroner's report into the death of three-year-old Moko Rangitoheriri recommends every child be registered and then monitored up until the age of five.
Shine manager Jill Proudfoot says acting on this advice could help save lives. 

Read / listen to the full story on Newstalk ZB

New research from Amnesty International shows one in three Kiwi women experience harassment online. Jill Proudfoot from Shine says 'social media websites need to take more responsibility to quash online abuse.’

Read Newshub story

“The death of Marie was absolutely preventable,” says Jane Drumm, of domestic abuse charity Shine...
'Why didn’t someone join the dots between a history of abuse and violence, police callouts, Child Youth and Family alerts? Why did Corrections fail to detect Marie was living with Hohua while on home detention? And why did Judge Bidois let Hohua out on bail, twice?.. '

Read NZ Herald article 

American basketball star and domestic violence survivor Ruthie Bolton today shared her life story - and showed some rising Kiwi players some new tricks - at an event in Auckland Saturday put on by Shine at Tamaki College. 

> Read NZ Herald article

‘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

‘Domestic violence is a workplace issue and bosses should care what happens to staff outside work, says Westpac chief executive David McLean. Westpac is the first organisation to earn a DVFREE Tick - an accreditation that recognises the bank's comprehensive domestic violence programme.’

Read more in the NZ Herald

Read article in HRD online

Despite strong recommendations from the World Health Organisation for doctors to respond to family violence, in New Zealand there is no nationwide mandate for GPs to do so, and some GPs are resistant.
Shine's Holly Carrington says, "They may feel like it's not their job, or that they're intruding on people's personal lives. But if you're caring for someone's health, what is more important than making sure they're not being beaten up and abused?"

Read the article on stuff.co.nz

A statement from Shine was read out to the inquest, as Shine had supported Moko’s mum: "The only people to blame are those that killed Moko but that doesn't mean processes can't be improved... There needs to be a better understanding of violence and trauma and what it does to families.."

Read newstalk zb article.
Read the stuff.co.nz article.

A report is showing that a third of Kiwi kids are still smacked by their parents. The report also showed a third of mothers used smacking as a form of punishment and one in 10 parents said they frequently smacked their children. Shine client services manager Jill Proudfoot said a small smack as a form of discipline could often lead to more intense violence. "There's a continuum of violence that starts with a little smack and escalates. If they continue defying you then you have to hit harder and harder and do more serious things to control them." 

She said physical discipline was strongly entrenched in New Zealand culture and while the change in legislation had helped, more resourcing was needed to support families towards better parenting practices.

Read the full article on Stuff

Submissions are closing on the Domestic Violence Victims' Protection Bill. 

Shine’s Holly Carrington is interviewed about why it is needed and whether it will be affordable for businesses. 

Read the Wireless full article

A recent study surveying nearly 450 problem gamblers found that half were victims of physical, psychological, emotional or sexual abuse in the past year, and slightly less than half (committed violence or abuse in the past year. Shine was one of the family violence organisations that provided advice to the research team.  

Read the full article

Holly Carrington of Shine was interviewed on ‘The Forum’ by George Penk about the myths and facts about domestic violence.

Listen to podcast

Shine spokeswoman Holly Carrington says it was great to hear more businesses were "taking ownership" of the issue and hoped other businesses would follow. Ms Carrington says it will also be important to develop the policy to make it more effective, including training and raising awareness for staff. Shine supports employers to take these critical steps with the DVFREE programme. 

Read more on Newstalk ZB

New Zealand Rugby is defending a new advertisement featuring the All Blacks after an anti-violence charity called it “excessively violent”. Shine’s general manager, Jane Drumm, said the ad made her feel “really uncomfortable watching huge All Blacks tackling smaller Japanese people and throwing them forcefully to the ground”.

Read the full article from MSN news

Holly Carrington from Shine adds insights to this article that delves into the issue of financial abuse, an often hidden and unrecognised form of abuse.

Shine's General Manager Jane Drumm has 35 years’ experience working with Shine and previously as a Probation officer. She says that family violence reporting is increasing, but also argues that violence in general is on the rise.

Listen to the Newstalk ZB clip.

Guy Williams talks to Ali Mau about his role as an ambassador for Light It Orange and why others should join the campaign that takes place 4-10 March.

See the RadioLive clip

Woman’s Day feature: Former Shortie star of 24 years recently took on the role of directing Shine’s TV advert for Light It Orange. The experience of working for Shine, she says, has been a refreshing change and an overwhelmingly positive project – but it’s sobering too.

Jan Logie's bill will allow victims of domestic violence in employment to take paid leave if needed. The bill will most likely come up for a vote on March 8th - please contact your MP now to urge their support for this bill, find out how here: www.parliament.nz/…/get-involved/have-your-say/contact-an-mp

A number of Australian states have put this into state law and research there shows only .02% of employees are using this leave provision. But for that .02%, this leave may make a major difference in helping them to remain employed while going through a crisis.

An increase in protection order breaches on social media is proving a challenge for family violence agencies, police and courts.
Jill Proudfoot from Shine said she knew of one case where a man photographed himself with a gun and sent a Snapchat to a woman, threatening to kill her. 

Read more here

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.

Over five years ago, Kate began ringing Shine's Helpline and eventually she left her abusive husband of 15 years to stay in Shine's refuge over the Christmas holidays. "He was very, very controlling ... It always felt like we were walking on eggshells, I was so afraid but I got used to it, it became a way of life for me. It started with psychological and emotional abuse and once he had reduced me to a point where I was so feeble and weak - then he started with the physical abuse."

"Kate wanted other victims of abuse to know that whatever their story - they could get out, there was help and support available and all they had to do was ask."

Read full article on NZ Herald 

Read more. 

Read full article on NZ Herald

This White Ribbon Day, Shine joins the Human Rights Commission to encourage employers to address family violence - one of NZ’s biggest human right issues. Today the HRC released this first video in a series, featuring Holly Carrington from Shine and organisations which have implemented family violence policy.

“Shine has assisted employers for many years to create workplaces that are safe and supportive for victims of domestic abuse through DVFREE, which recommends creation of a policy as a starting point. DVFREE also helps employers raise awareness amongst staff and provides training for key staff so they know how to support employees who disclose abuse safely and effectively,”  Westpac and The University of Auckland stand out as two DVFREE partners who have gone beyond introducing a policy to ensure that staff know more about the issue and how to access support.

Read more on DVFREE here.

Related articles:

Jackie Blue: Employers have a part to play in tackling family violence in the NZ Herald

Call for more employers to consider needs of workers affected by family violence on Stuff

Businesses and workplaces encouraged to adopt policies that address family violence on Live News
Businesses and workplaces encouraged to adopt policies that address family violence on Foreign Affairs.co.nz

When women come to Shine for help after a physical assault, it’s often revealed that they’ve also been psychologically abused for years, says Jill Proudfoot.

 Jill is client services manager at Shine, the charity which has made it its mission to stop domestic abuse in New Zealand. She says psychological abuse encompasses all the strategies used by a person who wants to control someone else, make sure they can’t exert their own free will, and create fear and anxiety about what might happen next.

 It can take the form of threats, intimidation, constant texting to see where the person is, monitoring email activity, checking finances and online presence. Isolating a person by cutting them off from their friends, or spreading rumours about them, such as saying they have mental health issues, is also common.

Read more here. 

Irka Omoboni-Soulat, who has worked for Shine, helping victims of domestic violence, for 11 years, reckons women often reach a turning point when she connects with them. 

For the first time, they feel they’re being heard and believed, Ms Omoboni-Soulat says. Once they reach that point, they often need her expert knowledge and networks, and also simply her ‘‘fresh eyes’’. 

‘‘Sometimes women get stuck because they’ve come to see the abusive behaviour as normal,’’ she says. ‘‘They often think they’re going crazy – they’ve been told that so many times, and their partners are experts at mind games. ‘‘We can be their reality check and say, ‘You are not crazy, that is not normal, you don’t deserve this’.’’

Read more here

Read more on NZ herald

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

YOUR words are my words.” It is this phrase that Kristin Dunne and Lesley Elliott hope will help women suffering domestic abuse. The pair met following the tragic case of Elliott's daughter, Sophie. It is a case well known. The 22-year-old was murdered in her own bedroom by an ex-boyfriend she had just ended a five-month relationship with. The relationship had been punctuated with what are now known as the signs of typical partner abuse. It was after Sophie's death that Dunne, now Tourism Bay of Plenty's chief executive, and Sophie's mother, Lesley Elliott, began corresponding. 

Read full article here. 

An Auckland man who beat his wife with a hammer because she complained they weren't holding hands while watching a movie together was allowed to walk free from court.

Judge Philippa Cunningham ruled the consequences of convictions for Yasir Mohib, who pleaded guilty to three violence charges, were out of proportion to the gravity of the offending and discharged him without conviction.

Read more on NZ Herald. 
Read more on Newstalk ZB

The Justice Panel speaks to Shine Senior Trainer Graham Barnes, Justspeak spokesperson Julia Spelman, lawyer Stephen Franks and  political scientist Dr Jennifer Curtin about the recent changes in family violence laws. 

Watch full discussion here. 

Belinda Henley talks to Shine's Holly Carrington about the Prime Minister's announcement of an overhaul of NZ family violence law. More than 50 changes will be made as part of a new drive by the Government to cut the high rate of offending. The changes include more support for victims and the creation of new offences.

• Watch NZ Herald clip with Holly Carrington 
• Watch TVNZ Q+A with Graham Barnes on panel
• Listen to the Newstalk ZB clip with Jane Drumm
• Read the Guardian article with comment from Jane Drumm

• Read Prime Minister John Key's full speech announcing the family violence law changes
• Read comment on the announced law changes from the NZ Family Violence Death Review Committee 

Justice Minister Amy Adams said the scheme is a stepping stone to solve the country's greater family violence issue.

Read more.

More than 12,000 Kiwis have repeatedly breached court orders to stay away from their victims, and one person has been convicted for doing so 14 times.

Ministry of Justice figures released to the Herald paint a disturbing picture of family violence in New Zealand, showing 12,157 people have been convicted for 20,864 protection order breaches in the 11 years to December 31, 2015.

A protection order is a court-imposed sanction to keep an offender away from their victims, and those at the front line believe the data is the tip of the iceberg as victims are too scared to report the crimes.

Read NZ Herald article

Watch WTV (Chinese) story

Jill Proudfoot, Client Services Director for Shine, says there are over 200 ethnic groups who have come through their services, and she agrees that there are multiple layers of issues around cases of violence against children. Take a look at this documentary where Sonia Sly investigates the causes and triggers behind abusive behaviour towards children, its connection with domestic violence, and the role that women play in child abuse.

Listen to it here 

After being deeply affected by the recent death of Moko Rangitoheriheri, a collection of NZ’s biggest fashion designers have joined forces with social change-makers Angela Bevan and Adam Bryce to launch La La La magazine – a one-off fundraiser initiative for Shine, a leading NZ specialist domestic abuse service provider.

La La La, named after Moko’s favourite song ‘La La La ‘by Naughty Boy & Sam Smith, will feature a series of portraits of Kiwi kids wearing clothing from New Zealand’s top designers who have come on board to support the project – Zambesi, Kate Sylvester, Karen Walker, Nom*D, Huffer, Stolen Girlfriends Club, Eugenie, Ingrid Starnes, Wynn Hamlyn, and Paris Georgia.
Click here to read more.       Click here to buy La La La  a zine for Moko.               Click here to read the New Zealand Herald article.

Last night we brought you the story of Moko's mother Nicola Dally-Paki. Moko Rangitoheriri is the young boy who was tortured and killed by two people who were supposed to be looking after him. Ms Dally-Paki was at Starship Hospital caring for her other son at the time. The story raised many questions about how her situation has been handled. Online and social media feedback has been extraordinary and there were good questions but for legal reasons, not all can be answered. But one organisation has decided to speak out. Like Child Youth and Family, Shine deals with family abuse cases but it's conclusions about Moko's mother were very different to CYF's. Story went to find out why. 

Click here to watch the video.

Tauranga is joining the nationwide march against child abuse this weekend. 'March for Moko' will be held in Papamoa on Sunday afternoon, with all those wanting to stand against child abuse invited to attend. The 'I will march for Moko' campaign was started by a group of like-minded mothers around New Zealand, sparked by the violence which killed 3-year-old Moko Rangitoheriri. Click here to read more at nzherald.co.nz.

Anna Leask spent time with police, Shine and in the Family Violence Court in Auckland City speaking to those tasked with responding to family violence on the front line, to give readers a ground-level insight into what is happening behind the doors of far too many New Zealand homes. Click here to read more at nzherald.co.nz. 

He knows first hand about perpetrators because he was one. While arguing with his partner many years ago, he strangled her. Now he is committed to helping other men change their behaviour. 
Click here to read more at nzherald.co.nz. 

New Zealand's family violence stats are the among the world's worst - and women are overwhelmingly the victims. Too scared to leave, often ignored or blamed when they do speak out, many live daily in fear of their lives. But could proposed law changes begin to address our shameful record? Click here to read more in Womens Weekly.  Click here to read more of Simon Days article in Next Magazine.

Judges are making progress in their efforts to extract more information about a defendents family violence history. Jane drumm speaks on the issue, click here to listen on RadioNZ.

A Porirua woman was sentenced to home detention for manslaughter after hitting back at her abusive partner. Shine executive director Jane Drumm says in these cases, people are usually victims of extreme violence, and the law then re-victimises them.

Timaru Boy's High School students and staff were hard to miss on Friday. They swapped their shirts and ties for orange onesies, fluoro vests, and wigs, all to take a stand against domestic violence.

Click here to read more.

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.

A domestic violence survivor says she still finds it hard to "find the right words" and break the silence and shame that goes with violence in the home.

Phoebe Clinton-Baker said she can remember, at age five, her father beating her mother, while she was verbally abused throughout her childhood.

Read more here.

One of Shine's former clients 'Jessica' has just spoken about her experience of domestic abuse to Mark Sainsbury on RadioLive. Her story makes it clear that domestic abuse can happen to anyone and shows why it can be so hard to leave an abusive partner. To listen to the story click here.

Guy Williams speaks about what he’s doing to help victims of domestic violence and how you can too. Read more here

In its fifth report, the independent Family Violence Death Review Committee called for radical changes to how government and non-government organisations respond to family violence in order to reduce abuse and deaths. Thirty percent of New Zealand women experience physical violence at some point in their lives - the highest rate of all 14 reporting OECD countries. Shine's  Jill Proudfoot says it "beggars belief" that some victims were still being told to keep themselves safe.

Read more at RadioNZ and NewstalkZB

Alison Mau talks with SHINE Executive Director Jane Drumm on protections orders in NZ, after Mei Fan took out a protection order the day before she was murdered by an ex-partner.

Listen to the full interview here

Rosealee Wells works for Shine in our North Shore refuge. She has a postgraduate degree in Psychology and has worked as a Youth Worker in both the North Shore and South Auckland, in this interview she talks about her daily life working for Shine and her passion for helping others.

Read the full story in Channel Magazine

Shine's Holly Carrington comments on the laws around victims of family violence who kill their abusers. She said "None of them want to commit murder, none. The only reason they do is they see no other way."

Read more on RadioNZ and Stuff.co.nz 

Savagery of domestic violence shocks those dealing with victims but New Zealanders ‘turning a blind eye'. The NZ Herald's police reporter Morgan Tait interviews Shine's Mary McGee, Holly Carrington and a former Shine client.

Read the full article here

Shine spokeswoman Jill Proudfoot said she had mixed feelings about Brown coming to New Zealand. "He is coming to this country where we've got a really serious domestic violence problem. People, whether he likes it or not, see him as a role model. We don't want that kind of role model here," she said.

Ms Proudfoot believed people could change and men with domestic violence convictions should not be repeatedly punished if they had taken genuine steps to make amends. "Change is possible. But no, I don't think he should be allowed in - unless he has made genuine reparation and changed his behaviour."

A new pilot programme will soon see judges making bail decisions automatically receive a new report on defendants’ family violence history, Justice Minister Amy Adams has announced. From September 1, the trial will see Judges in Porirua and Christchurch receive a Family Violence Summary report which details all recorded family violence incidents involving each defendant. It includes police safety orders or protection orders, as well as any breaches of these. Interviewed on Radio NZ's "Checkpoint," Shine’s Jane Drumm said that New Zealand has the worst record of domestic violence among OECD countries but this is a significant step forward. 

Read more on 3News Online

Listen to Checkpoint's interview with Judge John Walker and Jane Drumm

The Ministry of Justice recently released a breakthrough discussion document presenting a wide range of ideas in order to better ‘keep victims of family violence safe and hold perpetrators to account’. Some of the ideas in the discussion document are:

          • Establishing a set of stand-alone family violence offences which will help Government track family violence cases in the courts
          • Creating an additional pathway for victims and perpetrators who want help, but are not yet involved in the criminal justice system 
          • Updating the legal definition of domestic violence, with one idea to more clearly explain the concept of "coercive control" 
          • Requiring Police to arrest for all breaches of protection orders, where there is sufficient evidence 
          • Establishing funding for applications for protection orders so victims to not have to pay to keep themselves safe 
          • Clarifying when information about family violence cases needs to be shared so privacy laws are not a barrier to safety 
          • Repeat family violence offending taken into account during sentencing 
          • More prominence to victim safety in related legislation such as the Care of Children Act and bail and sentencing law We commend the Ministry and Minister Amy Adams for such a forward thinking document and we strongly support the proposals that put a stronger legislative focus on safety for victims.

Because these statistics are just shocking:

         * New Zealand has the highest reported rate of intimate partner violence in the developed world 
         * 41 per cent of police response time is spent on domestic violence. In 2014 they responded to 100,000 incidents 
         * Every five minutes, one notification for family violence is made to Police

We believe that New Zealand absolutely needs to shift towards adults and children having the right to safety, over and above an offender’s right to natural justice or access to their children.

We also support legislative changes to clarify that safety trumps privacy in guiding decisions about sharing information on cases involving domestic abuse.

Jane Drumm, Shine’s Executive Director says,

“We totally support the proposal that the police make an arrest whenever there is evidence of a Protection Order breach. We also support the proposal for repeat and serious family violence offending to be considered an aggravating factor in sentencing. There need to be changes in the law as well as policies of police, courts and other agencies that recognise that family violence is a pattern of coercive control.

In my nearly 18 years working in this sector, I have never seen anything like this document. It is heartening that it contains such a raft of important proposed changes, and more importantly that these changes are being led by 16 Government Ministers in a whole of government approach on this issue. These and other proposals in the document would give a very strong message that society does not tolerate domestic abuse.” 

Listen to Minister Adams and Jane Drumm interviewed on Radio NZ by Kathryn Ryan (28 mins)

Listen to Minister Adams and Jane Drumm interviewed on Radio LIVE by Duncan Garner (12 mins)

Information has been released regarding the history of criminal offending of Tony Douglas Robertson, who has been found guilty of raping and killing Blessie Gotingco by the Auckland High Court.

In light of this, Shine's Executive Director Jane Drumm, a former probation officer, said she wanted GPS extended to more ex-prisoners.

But she admitted it was not perfect, and nothing could protect the public from a dangerous criminal like Robertson.

Read full story on Radio New Zealand News

|Radio New Zealand| "Some situations have arisen that have been profoundly unjust on the person who committed the homicide because she had come to the stage that she was so terrified that she couldn't see another option," says Jill Proudfoot, Shine's Client Services Director.

Advocates for battered women say a Law Commission review of whether victims of family violence who kill their abusive partners should be able to claim self-defence is long-overdue. The commission is also considering whether a judge should impose a lesser penalty if an abused person is still convicted of murder.

Read the full article here. 

|Cath Vincent Show| Jane Drumm, Shine's Executive Director, talks about her journey with Shine, how Shine has grown as an organisation, and her insights as Shine's leader for over 17 years. 

Watch this clip from the Cath Vincent Show.

|3 News| Organisations against family violence are concerned at New Zealand's rising rates of reported cases and say all of society must pitch in to combat the problem.

Police investigated 101,981 instances of domestic violence in 2014, according to statistics released today by the New Zealand Family Violence Clearinghouse (NZFVC), a figure up from 95,080 instances reported the year before.

"It's a bit upsetting to see [the figures] still going up, but if reporting's going up that's probably a good thing – we want more reporting but it's no surprise to us, put it that way, in terms of the overall number of investigations," says Women's Refuge chief executive Dr Ang Jury.

"This is actually an all-of-society, an all-of-community issue. This is very much a shared responsibility. "We'll do our bit, police can do their bit, courts can do their bit – everyone else has got to chime in as well," she says.

The figures showed that 37 percent of the instances led to an offence being recorded.

Holly Carrington, a spokesperson for Shine, a charity helping victims of domestic abuse, says despite the higher rate of investigations, family violence is not necessarily on the rise.

"There is really no way to know if prevalence is actually increasing as so much of the problem is still hidden. There is far more demand for our services than we are able to meet, so again, it is hard to tell whether that actually translates into an increase in prevalence."

She agrees with Ms Jury that family violence is shared responsibility.

"We need as many people as possible – in Government, government agencies, the health sector, schools, and throughout the community – to recognise just how serious the problem is and be willing to get involved and be part of the solution."

The data also showed the resolution rate in 2014 had decreased from previous years, meaning fewer investigations led to someone being apprehended over an alleged crime.

In 2014, 82 percent of 7163 recorded male assaults female offences were resolved, a decrease from 93 percent in 2008.

There was also a decrease in the resolution rate of people breaching protection orders; last year 83 percent of the 6103 recorded offences were resolved, down from 90 percent in 2008.

Read more on 3 News

|One News| Growing fears in Australia over the number of men stalking their ex-partners using technology has led to concern in New Zealand as similar cases increase on this side of the ditch.

One young Australian mother, who asked to remain anonymous, said she fled her volatile relationship but her ex-partner had tracked her using a GPS device hidden in her daughter's toy doll.

"I said you shouldn't know where I live and he said 'you live at this, and this is the address of the refuge' and I said how the hell do you know where I live?"

Another woman was tracked after her ex-partner planted an iPhone in her car.

Tracking behaviour is increasing in New Zealand and is a worrying trend for Jill Proudfoot from domestic violence abuse charity Shine.

"It's one of the really high risk behaviours because it's usually a person who is obsessively jealous and wants to know everything about what that targeted person is doing," she said.

She said women needed to be aware of tracking apps that may be on their smart phones.

"Those apps can be removed from phones it's just a matter of knowing they're there and getting the right person to help."

Watch this OneNews video. 

Family violence occurring in high socio-economic households in New Zealand is the theme of a recent collaborative project between 'It's Not OK' and the glossy, Home Magazine. TV3's new late-night news show ‘Newsworthy’ talked to Shine Client Services Director Jill Proudfoot Home Magazine editor Jeremy Hansen  to shed more light on the issue. Watch the 11 June episode here.

Maori Television|

Leathered men on Harley Davidsons isn't how you would usually describe charity supporters.

Thanks to kids charity "Shine", Auckland's motorbike community is out in full-force.

Grant Brett of Shine says,“If I can help in any way, help children basically become better people without violence in their own homes as they grow up later on in life then I think I've achieved something.”

Watch the video here

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

Stuff

Parents Mark Longley and June Steenkamp talk about the loss of their daughters Emily Longley and Reeva Steenkamp.

The parents of two bright young women brutally killed at the hands of their partners say raising awareness of domestic violence has helped them heal.

Steenkamp's 29-year-old daughter Reeva was killed by her boyfriend and sports star Oscar Pistorius in his Johannesburg apartment on Valentines Day in 2013.

The South African model and law school graduate had been with the double-amputee Olympian, known as "Blade Runner", for three months when he shot her dead in his bathroom.

And Mark Longley's 17-year-old daughter Emily was strangled by her partner Elliott Turner in 2011 in Bournemouth, England.

Read more in Stuff

NZ Herald

June Steenkamp says work with domestic abuse prevention networks will create a legacy in honour of her daughter Reeva. Reeva was 29 when she was killed by her boyfriend, South African olympian Oscar Pistorius on Valentine's Day, 2013. Now, Mrs Steenkamp hopes sharing what her daughter went through will help other women speak up, or ask questions of their friends and family to try to prevent domestic violence.

Read more and watch the video here

 June Steenkamp to speak at domestic violence charity dinner. 

Her daughter was shot dead on Valentine’s Day 2013 by one of the world’s most famous athletes. 

Now June Steenkamp - the mother of Reeva Steenkamp - is coming to New Zealand to share her experience of the effects of domestic violence. 

Mrs Steenkamp is the primary guest speaker at a black tie dinner in Auckland to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Shine, New Zealand’s largest domestic abuse prevention service registered as a charitable trust. 

Oscar Pistorius, Reeva Steenkamp’s boyfriend of three months, was found guilty of killing her in the Johannesburg apartment they shared. 

Reeva’s mother June sat silently through Pistorius’ trial following which he was convicted of culpable homicide, effectively manslaughter under New Zealand law. 

He was sentenced to a maximum five years in prison with the possibility of serving the rest under correctional supervision after 10 months*. 

Mrs Steenkamp has since written a book – Reeva: A mother’s Story – and is active in addressing the global scourge that is domestic violence. 

Shine’s The Light at the End of the Tunnel black tie dinner on 28 March at the Heritage Auckland Hotel is the only public speaking engagement in New Zealand by Mrs Steenkamp. 

Domestic violence is truly a global issue and June Steenkamp’s book does not hold back when it comes to pointing the finger squarely at Pistorius for his alleged violent behaviour. 

It’s acknowledged that South Africa is a violent country. But New Zealand figures show we too have our dark side, mostly hidden away in the privacy of family homes. 

Every six minutes our police attend a domestic abuse incident (2014 statistics). And new provisional figures released to Radio New Zealand show the country's rate of reported family violence has changed little in the past 12 months. 

One in three women is physically or sexually abused by an intimate partner in their lifetime. Every five weeks a NZ child is killed by a member of his or her own family. 

Shine says there needs to be more action in battling domestic violence and it is working hard to ensure we have safer homes in New Zealand every day. 

The fundraiser celebrating 25 years of Shine is being hosted by radio personality and writer Kerre McIvor and includes a three-course dinner and a glass of bubbly, beer and wine. 

There’s also live entertainment, thought-provoking guests speakers including June Steenkamp, and a charity auction. 

Find out more about the 25th anniversary black tie dinner and book tickets here: www.eventfinder.co.nz

Shine events during March include: 

• Orange Friday, 13 March: www.orangefriday.org.nz

• Shine’s first-ever annual street appeal – every Thursday to Sunday during March. 

• 25th anniversary black tie dinner 28 March. 

About June Steenkamp

 June Steenkamp is originally from Blackburn, Lancashire, and moved to Cape Town with her first husband. She married Barry Steenkamp in the summer of 1983 and gave birth to Reeva, her 'late lamb' a year later. Reeva, the couple’s only child together, came as a surprise, when June was in her late 30s. June is a warm and humorous grandmother, and loves her squabbling dogs. She is deeply religious. “We’re just ordinary people. We’ve had an ordinary life, a lovely life with the horses and the animals we love, and we’ve got lovely friends.” In 2014 she published her book Reeva: A mother’s Story about her daughter’s death and the subsequent trial of Oscar Pistorius. 

Stay in touch with Shine 

• To find out more about Shine visit www.2shine.org.nz

• Tweet support to Shine on @shine_NZ and @Orange_FridayNZ

• Like the Shine Facebook page for updates on www.facebook.com/shinenz and www.facebook.com/OrangeFridayforShine 

• Follow on Instagram @orange_friday

• Use the hashtag #helpthemshine during the month of March. 

Shine Steenkamp Press Release (200 KB)

Radio NZ

Philippa Tolley looks at whether progress is being made on dealing with New Zealand's shocking domestic violence statistics. Shine’s Jill Proudfoot and Liz Flaherty are interviewed extensively about Shine safe@home.

Read more

20 February 2015

Holly Carrington talks to World TV (Chinese) about Shine’s services including the free Helpline, which makes use of interpreting services to assist callers who are ESL speakers.

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30 January 2015, NZ Herald

You are not alone. Everyone has the right to be safe at home.

At Shine we help anyone who is living with the fear of violence or abuse in their home. Many people who are being treated badly feel as though they are doing something to deserve the abuse. This is never true. Nobody deserves to be called names, insulted, humiliated, kept away from family and friends, controlled, hurt or frightened.

There is a direct relationship between domestic abuse and child abuse. Children who live in a home where there is fear are always affected by it. When you are ready, Shine can help you to take steps to keep yourself and your children safe and secure.

Don't be afraid to ask for help. If you are afraid for your safety right now, call 111. If you would like to talk to someone about your fears or concerns, phone our Free Helpline at 0508 744 633.

Get involved and donate now to help stop domestic abuse.

25 November 2014, Radio Live 

Andrew Patterson talks to Aaron Steedman, Coordinator for Shine's No Excuses - a men's stopping violence programme who help men from all walks of life to look at their lives and pull back from being abusive.

Listen to the interview

23 November 2014, Yahoo! NZ News 

SKYCITY’s Sky Tower in Auckland will be lit up in white on Monday evening Nov 25th at 10pm, on the eve of White Ribbon Day. The anti-domestic violence network SAFTINET (Safer Auckland Families Through Intervention Network) and the White Ribbon Campaign are behind this initiative to call attention to the message that violence against women is unacceptable.

Read the article

5 November 2014, NZ Doctor Auckland 

GP Gabrielle Moss, comments on the need for more screening of family violence in general practice and explains how staff at Orakei Health Services have incorporated family violence screening into routine general practice. Staff have been trained to ask screening questions and make a referral to appropriate expert services such as Shine.

Read the article

12 September 2014

Scoop In the wake of the Oscar Pistorius trial, it is vital for the public to understand some facts about domestic abuse. Perpetrators will often keep the violence private so that the public, and even close friends and family, will often believe that he is nothing but charming.

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9 Sept 2014

Maori TV Shine's Jill Proudfoot interviewed as part of this story highlighting results of a Maori TV election poll.

Read the article

8 July 2014, NZ Herald 

Shine's Executive Director Jane Drumm said prosecutions had also dropped because of new prosecution guidelines issued by the Crown Law Office in 2010, and updated in 2013, which "raised the bar" of evidence required for prosecutions. The new guidelines encouraged prosecutors to make "plea arrangements" with defence lawyers where "releasing the saved costs in court and judicial time, prosecution costs and legal aid resources [could] be better deployed in other areas".

Read the article

4 July 2014

Shine press release Shine responds to the Labour Party's newly announced family violence plan.

Read the article

3 July 2014, Radio NZ 

Listen to this extensive interview of Shine's Executive Director Jane Drumm on Kathryn Ryan's Nine to Noon programme.

Listen to the interview

2 July 2014, Voxy 

The Ministry of Justice announced a package of new Government initiatives aimed at addressing family violence. "I am more than delighted with everything on the list. They are practical and are a giant leap forward in the way our criminal justice system responds to domestic abuse in this country," says Jane Drumm, Shine’s Executive Director. Jane also gave this message in an interview on Prime News (Sky News).

Read the article

Channel Magazine, Issue 45, July 2014 

Shine’s North Shore Women’s Refuge, the only refuge serving the North Shore community, is a life-saver for women and children caught in the grip of terror by an abusive partner or father.

Read the article