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Laws aimed at keeping women safe from domestic violence are failing

Filed under: Domestic Violence — JohnPotter @ 10:30 am Mon 9th August 2004

Women left to fight on their own

By TARA ROSS

Sunday Star-Times investigations reveal it is getting harder for women to win protection orders against violent partners, and judges are increasingly granting orders only in deferred, defended court hearings – rather than straight away.

The National Collective of Independent Women’s Refuges, expected to release a report next week criticising the trend, says it puts women in danger.

Refuge workers say that’s because women are being put off by court delays — they don’t want to be put in danger without legal protection while they wait for the defended court hearing — and the failure of courts and police to consistently enforce the law.

Brian Gardner, manager of the National Network of Stopping Violence, said women were more at risk than before the Domestic Violence Act became law.

7 Comments »

  1. It seems to me, the less tools woman have at their disposal as an excuse for getting rid of their partner, then the better off the family will be. Maybe the woman and men may try that little bit harder to remain together

    Comment by Mike — Tue 10th August 2004 @ 12:50 am

  2. Letter published in Sunday Star-Times, August 15th 2004

    Protection orders

    Tara Ross correctly points out ( “Woman left to fight on their own”, August 8th) that it is now harder for a woman to get a protection order.

    Judges have cracked down on these orders because they were previously obtained by a women’s sworn affidavits that contained little or no testable evidence, together with outright lies.

    On these grounds alone it was easy to separate children from their fathers. Family Court Judge Jan Doogue calls this process “a social experiment”.

    Mothers and children still have a vast array of government fiscal agencies to keep them safe — the police, Victim Support, Woman’s Refuge, CYFS, Family Start to name but a few. It is a huge industry in New Zealand.

    Approximately 90,000 children had been processed by the Family Court. These unconsulted and definitely devalued children mostly live apart from their fathers and often lose contact completely.

    There is one non-government-funded retreat for abused fathers and their children. It as consistently full. Even the police are recommending that more retreats be started for fathers and their children. Children have the right to the love and guidance and companionship of both parents. Woman’s Refuge, Family Start, CYFS and many other agencies have a financial interest in making sure this doesn’t happen.

    On behalf of the children, please think again.

    James Bagnall, Auckland.

    Comment by Jim — Tue 14th September 2004 @ 11:31 am

  3. Women’s refuge have been prattling on for years as part of the “Domestic Violenec Industry”. Its about time all the DVI advocates were honest and admitted its all about funding and money, not children or women.

    The paradigm is shifting and as a result the balance being redressed.Get used to it those who live of the misery created by the Domestic Violence Industry.

    Comment by Scrap_The_CSA — Wed 15th September 2004 @ 8:19 am

  4. Thankyou Jim Bagnall for stating the “facts” bluntly AND frankly about the massive “its all about MONEY” DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INDUSTRY IN New-Zealand.Jim Bagnalls work on behalf of men and children in this country is most admirable. Thankyou so much once again

    Comment by James Kelso — Mon 27th September 2004 @ 10:50 pm

  5. as Bill Clinton , might have said it so pithly, Sucinctly: “The DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INDUSTRY”??? “ITS ALL ABOUT THE MONEY STUPID”

    Comment by James Kelso — Mon 27th September 2004 @ 10:52 pm

  6. Hi there just wanting to have a say about James comments, to quote “Children have the right to the love and guidance and companionship of both parents. Woman’s Refuge, Family Start, CYFS and many other agencies have a financial interest in making sure this doesn’t happen.” I sincerely hope you don’t truly believe this. I am just entering the field of social work and I can assure you that, child welfare is the primary focus of the agencies that you have stated. Sure money is key in keeping the doors open but do you not think that the people behind the doors have a heart?

    To quote again “Mothers and children still have a vast array of government fiscal agencies to keep them safe — the police, Victim Support, Woman’s Refuge, CYFS, Family Start to name but a few. It is a huge industry in New Zealand.” This is my point, if an agency such as one you have stated has become involved in a family, then they are there for a REASON. You can say they have ulterior motives, but really when push comes to shove, somebody has done something really wrong and they deserve all they get male or female, and the agency is there to support.

    Comment by nick — Fri 5th November 2004 @ 6:05 pm

  7. Considering the woman who wrote this story ruined my life by exposing my misery & the violence I endured on the front page of the Sunday Star Times, it sickened me to see she got a promotion after her ‘exclusive story’ while I was left to live with the shame, embarrassment & further violence I was left to deal with as a result, with no accountability or consideration for the fact that I was in another violent relationship when she released her story, (lack of research) not to mention that she lied & told me it was going to be a thumb print picture along side others, with a small quote to wish the olympians well (which id explained to my partner at the time, but decided to take my quote & she has no idea that her idiotic need to defame him & myself, took my life down a path of mistrust, humiliation, not just to me but my daughter who refused to go to school after being shamed & teased that her mum was getting beaten up & nearly drowned in a bath tub, if I had one wish it would be for her to walk in my shoes & try to carry on after the irreversible damage caused thru her ignorance, to be honest, I would rather endure the physical violence then the psychological damage she caused, which I have never recovered from, those scars will never heal
    . But congratulations she’s doing great, I left broadcasting school, my scuba diving course which I loved & my job as a security supervisor gave up on trying to better myself as everywhere I went, I was judged by people I didn’t even kno. So thank you Tara Ross.. its great to see u used me as a stepping stone to bigger & better things.. while I still wallow in the gutter. Hypocrite & riddled with lies just like the exclusive story you wrote. I hope you teach more people how to get away with slaughtering more people like myself with your technique. #broughtshametomynameoversomeoneelsesfame #wellplayedtarayouarethewinner #ididntstandachance #ownthefactthatyoutookawaymyintegity #dontjudgedthewayidealwithallthepain #youplayedabigpartinmy’recovery’ #nothingmattersanymore #imsorrybutyoursuccesssomehowmakesmefeelsick….

    Comment by Victim of violence with no name supression — Tue 11th August 2020 @ 7:31 pm

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