MENZ ISSUES

MENZ Issues: news and discussion about New Zealand men, fathers, family law, divorce, courts, protests, gender politics, and male health.

Archive of September 2004

Taboos hide same-sex violence

Tue 28th September 2004:

Experts say domestic violence is just as severe and as prevalent in same-sex relationships as in heterosexual ones, with a third of homosexual partnerships estimated to be abusive. But a taboo exists around what the gay community calls the “second closet”, resulting in under-reporting of violence and a scarcity of support services. Auckland’s Jo Butler, […]

Concerns over Family Court media censorship powers

Sat 25th September 2004:

Government plans to give Family Court judges the power to vet media stories is a form of censorship that journalists strongly oppose, Commonwealth Press Union (CPU) New Zealand chairman Gavin Ellis said today. Family Court proceedings would be opened to the public and media with tight restrictions in place, the Government announced yesterday. Changes were […]

Secrecy No Answer To Domestic Violence

Sat 18th September 2004:

Dr Muriel Newman – Press Releases – Social Welfare ACT New Zealand Deputy Leader and Social Welfare Spokesman Dr Muriel Newman today predicted that New Zealand would never be able to reduce its levels of domestic violence so long as the Family Court protects perpetrators behind closed doors. “On Radio New Zealand today, Chief Family […]

Batman protest admired by NZ group

Fri 17th September 2004:

Fathers in New Zealand are waiting for their own Batman to raise awareness for their cause. A man dressed as the caped crusader has drawn world wide attention for the plight of dads estranged from their children after staging a five hour protest perched on a ledge at Buckingham Palace. The Union of Fathers here […]

Let our boys be boys, says Tamihere

Tue 14th September 2004:

John Tamihere has again defended boys’ rights to be boys. The Youth Affairs minister has attacked the media’s portrayal of boys as “problems” and society’s failure to recognise their differences. He told the New Zealand Family Daycare Association conference in Rotorua last night: “We are told their behaviour needs to be controlled, managed or handled. […]

BSA upholds Peter Ellis Nine to Noon complaint

Sat 11th September 2004:

The Broadcasting Standards Authority today released a decision upholding a complaint from Peter Ellis about an interview conducted on National Radio’s Nine to Noon programme in August 2003. The BSA ordered Radio New Zealand to pay $5,300 legal costs to the complainant, to broadcast an apology on Nine to Noon, to publish a summary of […]

DPB Recovery is not Child Support

Fri 10th September 2004:

Maharey defends penalty on solo mums Media Release 10 September 2004 Jim Nicolle NZ Child Support Reform Network DPB recovery is not Child Support “Given the fundamental flaws of the Child Support Act 1991, it is not surprising that mothers refuse to lodge a so call Child Support application,” commented Jim Nicolle, spokesperson for the […]

Govt rejects law commission view that structural change needed

The Government is not convinced major changes to the structure of courts are needed but has ordered officials to look into this further. However, Justice Minister Phil Goff and Courts Minister Rick Barker said its focus was first on improving efficiency in the courts system rather than planning radical changes to its structure. The Government […]

A Men’s Affairs Ministry?

Tue 7th September 2004:

Labour tells us ” its on the radar” .The ACT Party responds with a call to “scrap the Ministry of Women’s Affairs” . Let me take you back to Monday 6 September : Over tea last night Jim, Kerry, Jack and myself discussed the Men’s Picnic on fathers day at Parliament. It was a great […]

Scrap women’s affairs ministry – ACT

The ACT Party has a way to deal with John Tamihere’s suggestion for a ministry of men’s affairs — even things up by scrapping the Ministry of Women’s Affairs. ACT MP Heather Roy said Mr Tamihere was right when he said men were not treated the same as women. “But rather than setting up a […]

CYF minders tail 11 Christchurch teens

Eleven troubled Christchurch teens are being tailed at school by government-funded minders because of concerns about their aggressive and sexually inappropriate behaviour. The minders are paid by Child, Youth and Family (CYF) to accompany the students to school each day, sit next to them in class and follow them around the playground to ensure that […]

Schools must report abuse ‘to save lives’

By TARA ROSS The father of slain six-year-old schoolgirl Coral-Ellen Burrows believes mandatory reporting – repeatedly ruled out by successive governments – could have saved his daughter… Under mandatory reporting regimes overseas, teachers and doctors must report instances of suspected child abuse, but efforts to introduce that here have been rejected by both National and […]

Ministry for men on political radar screen – Tamihere

Mon 6th September 2004:

By HANK SCHOUTEN A ministry of men’s affairs could be set up to deal with serious men’s issues, says Youth Affairs Minister John Tamihere. He was commenting on a call to set up a ministry made by organisers of a men’s rights picnic that marked Father’s Day with a protest at Parliament yesterday. “I think […]

Plunket Congratulates Dedicated Dads

Sun 5th September 2004:

Plunket is celebrating Father’s Day by congratulating the men who are making their children a priority in their lives. “When we consider the short and long-term benefits to children of having both parents fully involved in their care and upbringing, it is clear that society will also ultimately benefit,” says Erin Beatson, clinical advisor with […]

Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is, Tamihere

Sat 4th September 2004:

Dr Muriel Newman – Press Releases – Social Welfare If Youth Affairs Minister John Tamihere is so concerned with Kiwi boys lacking adequate role models, then why doesn’t he put his money where his mouth is, ACT New Zealand Deputy Leader and Social Welfare Spokesman Dr Muriel Newman challenged today. “Mr Tamihere is right: many […]

Saving Our Children With An Open Family Court

Thu 2nd September 2004:

ACT New Zealand Deputy Leader and Social Welfare Spokesman Dr Muriel Newman today urged Chief Family Court Judge Peter Boshier to continue his push for more openness in the Family Court. “The Care of Children Bill currently before Parliament is a step in the right direction towards greater openness, but it does not go far […]

Areas chosen for Family Safety Team pilot

Wed 1st September 2004:

A pilot programme aimed at reducing domestic violence will see Family Safety Teams established in Wairarapa/Hutt Valley, Auckland/Hamilton, Christchurch, and Counties Manukau, Justice Minister Phil Goff said today… “While family violence reports may initially increase with greater awareness of effective services, the initiative is expected to reduce family violence. “The new services will focus on […]

Care of Children Bill select committee report

The select committee report on the Care of Children Bill is now available (as a pdf).

Children to get say in custody battles

Principal Family Court Judge Peter Boshier says the Care of Children Bill before Parliament will see more children being heard directly in court and their views given more weight. Judges had traditionally not welcomed directly interviewing children in Family Court cases, preferring to learn their wishes through psychologists’ reports, Judge Boshier said yesterday. But many […]

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