Male and Female Perpetrated Partner Abuse: Testing a Diathesis-Stress Model by Reena Sommer INTRODUCTION Prior to 1970, studies focusing on family violence were virtually nonexistent. The lack of research in this area seemed to imply that violence within the family was “either rare, dysfunctional or a pathology traceable to mental illness or psychopathology” (Gelles, 1979, […]

A study which found that one third of women are physically or sexually abused by their partners is part of a misleading campaign, a men’s umbrella group representative says. “The ongoing campaign seems to deny the existence of domestic violence of women against men,” Christchurch Men and Fathers’ Network facilitator, Don Rowlands, said. University of […]

National News Release 9:01am 26 November 2004 Police have welcomed the findings of Auckland University’s research ‘Violence against women in New Zealand: prevalence and health consequences, says Inspector Rob Veale, Violence Reduction Manager. “The report concludes violence is a common experience in the lives of women, and women are more at risk of experiencing violence […]

One in three women will face violence from their partners in their lifetime, and the experience will cause long-term health problems, a study has found. The University of Auckland study suggests New Zealand has a higher domestic violence rate than the United States of America or Australia. A second study, by Auckland University of Technology […]

Women’s Refuge, thirty years established in New Zealand, is widely assumed to be universally respected, and to be the only such agency offering help, counselling and accommodation to victims of family violence. In N.Z. it holds an annual Appeal Week every June, complete with much innovative, and even at times highly questionable, media coverage and […]

Intimate Partner Violence within a cohort of Pacific mothers living in New Zealand Reducing violence by Pacific peoples has been identified by Pacific communities and government agencies as an important issue. However, there is little research into the nature of intimate partner relationships among Pacific families living in New Zealand. This study reports the 12-month […]

The father of Christchurch woman Lisa Hiddleston says a manslaughter verdict handed down to her killer is “right and proper”. Scott John Blackmore, 30, was last night acquitted of murdering his former partner Hiddleston by a jury in the High Court in Christchurch, and instead found guilty of manslaughter. He will be sentenced on December […]

The Dominion Post November 13, 2004, NEWS Pg. 2 The treatment of schizophrenics at the Te Whetu Tawera unit is a “disaster in the making”, says psychiatrist Ian Goodwin, who runs the acute section of the Mason Clinic in Auckland. Dr Goodwin said Te Whetu Tawera had adopted the theories of Auckland University psychology senior […]

A member of the UK Fathers 4 Justice organisation visited Men’s Centre North Shore last night. Paul Robinson’s mother Sonia told us that she was proud of her son for taking part in a protest which stopped London traffic for hours last February after they climbed onto gantries over arterial roads. Five fathers are now […]

A video planned for recent Counsel For Child workshops in Wellington and Auckland run by the Family Law section of the New Zealand Law Society has been banned because it is critical of the NZ family Law system. A former chairman of Men’s Center North Shore was invited to present to the workshops because of […]

On 10 November 2004 the Australian Government released a discussion paper seeking input from the community into the implementation of wide-ranging reforms to the family law system. The reforms follow the report of the parliamentary inquiry into child custody arrangements in the event of family separation: ‘Every Picture Tells a Story’ and include the establishment […]

Press release: New Zealand Child Support Reform Network. 10 November 2004 For Immediate Release Lack of free Family Court Ordered DNA Paternity testing abuses Dads and Kids. “The Labour Government is abusing fathers and children by failing to legislate for free DNA testing to establish paternity”, is how Jim Nicolle, spokesperson for the New Zealand […]

Principal Family Court Judge Peter Boshier has moved to allay fears held by journalists that his judges will misuse their power to vet media stories. Last month the Government announced that Family Court proceedings would be opened to the public and media with tight restrictions in place. One proposed restriction strongly opposed by journalists was […]

Children’s advocates are welcoming the new Care of Children Bill. The Bill has been passed into law this afternoon [9th Nov], thanks to the Greens supporting Labour. It gives gay partners parental rights, strengthens police powers and increases children’s rights. Opponents say it negates the rights of parents, but Trish Grant from the Office of […]

The Family Court will be open to the media under legislation passed by Parliament yesterday. The Care of Children Bill, which was given its third reading on a 62-58 vote, carries a provision that accredited media can cover cases with the permission of the presiding judge. The identities of people appearing will still be protected. […]

Press Release: ACT New Zealand– Social Welfare Dr Muriel Newman ACT New Zealand Deputy Leader and Social Welfare Spokesman Dr Muriel Newman today said a report, that shows nearly two-thirds of recidivist offenders have demonstrated anti-social behaviour by the age of 13, highlights the urgent need for a reform of the welfare system and family […]

Father on run for days with daughter By LOUISA CLEAVE Lapana Seve had been on the run with his 4-year-old daughter for three days before she was found murdered in the back seat of his car beside Auckland’s Northwestern Motorway. Mr Seve, 45, picked up daughter Storm Apera-Seve from his estranged wife’s Grey Lynn home […]

United Future MP Gordon Copeland today expressed his frustration and disappointment at the government’s steadfast refusal to use DNA-testing to prove paternity. During debate in Parliament on the Care of Children Bill, Mr Copeland outlined a real-life case to the House. “A young couple became the proud parents of a beautiful baby girl. Not only […]

Turner: Govt misses chance to help children of divorce The Government has missed a huge opportunity to help children whose parents are divorcing by failing to take note of innovative mediation approaches overseas, most notably recent Australian reforms, United Future’s Judy Turner said today. “They have also failed to consider Law Society recommendations on mediation […]

Dr Muriel Newman – Press Releases – Social Welfare ACT New Zealand Deputy Leader and Social Welfare Spokesman Dr Muriel Newman today accused Labour, United Future, New Zealand First and the Greens of giving Kiwi fathers false hope about their support for Shared-Parenting. “Last night, Parliament had an opportunity to change the law, to help […]

A plea for fathers to ask for help. The call comes as police investigate an apparent murder-suicide in Auckland. Forty-five-year-old Lapana Seve died after being hit by a truck on the northwestern motorway on Wednesday afternoon. His four-year-old daughter Storm Apera-Seve was found dead in his car. Union of Fathers national president Jim Bagnall says […]

Questions in Parliament for Oral Answer 3rd Nov 2004 8. JUDY TURNER (United Future) to the Minister for Courts: Is he satisfied that the new $1.5 million trial of mediators in the Family Court is sufficient reform to improve outcomes for children? Hon RICK BARKER (Minister for Courts): The $1.5 million will fund the cost […]

Press Release: New Zealand Government Parents who use their children to get back at estranged or divorced partners by preventing their return to the parent with day-to-day care, face the possibility of arrest, says Associate Justice Minister David Benson-Pope. Mr Benson-Pope says the Government will propose an amendment to the Care of Children Bill, being […]

The Union of Fathers says a new family court model is a small step in the right direction, but warns there is still a long way to go. The Government is trialling a non judge-led mediation service aimed at resolving custody and access issues. The Union of Fathers says public debate is needed so the […]

The Government intends passing its Care of Children Bill next week, and will put Parliament into urgency this Thursday so the legislation can complete its committee stage. Associate Justice Minister David Benson-Pope, who is in charge of the bill, said today it was the most significant improvement to guardianship laws in almost 40 years. “The […]