Pānui June 2008

Click HERE for a PDF of Pānui June 2008.

Table of Contents

Court advocates for family violence victims
Men must be involved too – Shenagh Gleisner
Goal is clear – Pamela Cohen Nominations
Promoting gender equality and advancement of women
Sexual violence research underway
It’s all in the eyes – Berill Michelsen
QSM for commitment to whānau
Stimulating and healthy activities for after-school care
Census report useful tool for women’s equality
Ngā Mihi o Te Tau Hou - Matariki, the Māori New Year, began on 5 June.
Women on the Move
Women on Boards - Karen Johansen
In brief
– Māori Language Week
– Breaks to breastfeed
– Volunteer Awareness Week
– New Family Violence Death Review Committee
– Suicide Prevention Action Plan
– Management training
– New Zealand Carers’ Strategy

Court advocates for family violence victims

Research carried out by the Ministry of Women’s Affairs shows there are considerable benefits for victims of family violence when they have an advocate to support them through the court system.

Those benefits include:

• improving the victim’s immediate and long-term safety
• improving the victim’s participation in and experience of the criminal justice system
• reducing the risk of re-victimisation and attrition
• promoting victims’ well-being.

The research was undertaken in consultation with the Ministry of Justice as part of the First Programme of Action of the Taskforce for Action on Violence within Families (the Taskforce). The report to the Taskforce on the research provided an analysis of international advocacy services; a consideration of what exists in New Zealand; and identified next steps for a service in New Zealand.

In the report the term ‘court advocate’ refers to an independent, community-based support person who provides services to victims of family violence. Their role also includes supporting victims through the length of their interactions with the justice system, but does not replace the role of the lawyer. There is no single nationwide advocacy service or programme in New Zealand for family violence victims in court, although there are a variety of services.

The report recommended to the Taskforce that the Ministry of Justice further develop the role of Independent Victim Advocate in the court system. It also recommended, however, that in developing the role, officials should ensure there was no duplication of existing government and non-government services, but rather work was undertaken with victim advisors, Family Court Co-ordinators, and existing NGO service providers to address any gaps.

The government has announced that it will fund the introduction of Independent Victim Advocates in all Family Violence Courts from July this year. The role description will be developed by the Ministry of Justice, in consultation with the Ministry of Social Development (MSD), and the positions will be implemented by MSD in 2009.

To read more on the Taskforce for Action on Family Violence go to www.msd.govt.nz/work-areas/families-whanau/.

In August last year a Ministry of Women’s Affairs-commissioned report Living at the Cutting Edge: Women’s Experiences of Protection Orders was released. This report revealed the stories of 43 women who have lived through family violence, and provided more than 40 recommendations on ways to improve the effectiveness of protection orders. One of those recommendations was the introduction of victims’ advocates in courts.

To see more on Living at the Cutting Edge go to www.mwa.govt.nz/news-and-pubs/publications/po.html.

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Men must be involved too

When we improve the circumstances of New Zealand women – which is the main aim of all of us here at MWA – we benefit all New Zealanders. We cannot, however, do it in isolation.

The Action Plan for New Zealand Women, while aimed at improving women’s quality of lives, still strongly recognises the importance of the connections and relationships women have with many others, including – and perhaps especially – men. Many of the women’s groups we speak to ask us to include their men.

We need men to help us achieve what we are seeking, so MWA has decided to try harder to communicate with and engage men. Here are just four examples why.

Eliminating violence: We will never eliminate violence unless men join the effort. Uncles, cousins, fathers and friends must intervene and tell their family members that it is never okay to hurt the women in their whānau and in their families and communities. So men and women together have to combat the attitudes and behaviours that lead to the terrorising and deaths of far too many women and children.

Work-life balance: Women are overburdened as they contribute their talents in the workplace and at the same time undertake those vital caring roles at home. Women want to be earners in their own right, but they also want to contribute through voluntary and caring activities. If men do not quickly step up and share much more strongly in all those voluntary roles, especially in the home, women will never have real choices.

Increasing women in governance and management: Many male businessmen do not appear to fully appreciate how diversity on their boards and management teams could contribute to their organisation’s performance. And maybe they do not fully understand what women can contribute, or where to find women able to. So we need male business leaders to seek out women for leadership positions.

Reducing occupational segregation: I often think how many young men would be great teachers and caregivers, but this work seems to continue to be predominantly done by women. And I think of those jobs done mainly by men, such as plumbers, electricians, builders, and many other trades – yet there is no reason why women could not make a career in these areas that also command very good wages. So I think if we were to reduce this gender segregation of jobs there would be significant gains for not only men and women but to New Zealand’s economic performance too – any waste of talent and mismatch of skills to jobs can only disadvantage us all.

Best wishes

Shenagh Gleisner
Chief Executive

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Goal is clear

The MWA Nomination Service’s goal is quite clear, says the Service’s new manager, Pamela Cohen – to reach 50 percent women’s participation on state sector boards and committees by 2010.

Pamela says reaching that goal will require around an additional 200 women being appointed to boards and committees in the next two years.

‘We need to find new ways to promote women into leadership positions and we need to increase the number of qualified women on our database.’

Married with two sons and a stepson, Pamela came to MWA from the Asia New Zealand Foundation where she had worked since 1995 as Education Director and, for a two-year period, Deputy Executive Director. Working in partnership with business, government, and community organisations, she was responsible for bringing a greater awareness of Asia into New Zealand schools.

Pamela says she is looking forward to initiating some work in the private sector, where women’s participation on corporate boards is only around 8 percent.

More information on the Nominations Service is available at www.mwa.govt.nz/women-on-boards

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Promoting gender equality and advancement of women

Ministry of Women’s Affairs’ Kaihautū, Sonya Rimene, headed the New Zealand delegation that attended the 52nd session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in New York in March. The key theme for this year’s session was ‘Financing for gender equality and the empowerment of women’.

CSW is the principal global policy-making body of the United Nations Economic and Social Council and is dedicated exclusively to gender equality and the advancement of women. Other organisations represented in the New Zealand delegation were Family Planning International and NZAID.

Sonya said attending CSW was an important part of MWA’s international work.

‘It is a great opportunity for ministers, government officials, and NGOs from around the world to talk, share experiences, and listen.’

Sonya said other countries were interested to hear about initiatives in New Zealand around the Action Plan for New Zealand Women, eliminating violence, and aid to the Pacific.

‘CSW was advised that we have a stand-alone Ministry of Women’s Affairs focused primarily on policy, and that we have a whole-of-government approach to gender mainstreaming, where all agencies are responsible for conducting gender analysis.

‘There was also interest in the establishment of the Taskforce for Action on Violence within Families and the Taskforce for Action on Sexual Violence, and on the work NZAID is doing to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment in the Pacific.’

More information is available at www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/csw/

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Sexual violence research underway

Contracts have been awarded for all four work streams for the two-year sexual violence research project being led by the Ministry of Women’s Affairs.

We advised in the March 2008 Pānui that the contracts had been advertised. Senior researchers from the Crime and Justice Research Centre (CJRC) at Victoria University of Wellington have now begun the work.

Research Manager, Denise Lievore, said that CJRC is known for producing high quality research on crime and social responses to crime.

‘The Centre has specialist expertise in conducting research in the criminal justice field, especially that involving vulnerable populations. The core research team assembled for this project comprises established and respected researchers with both breadth and depth of experience.’

Dr Jan Jordan, Senior Lecturer at Victoria University’s Institute of Criminology, is well-known in New Zealand and internationally for her research with survivors of rape. She has over 20 years experience in teaching and researching in the area of women and crime.

Dr Venezia Kingi and Dr Elaine Mossman, Senior Research Fellows at CJRC, have extensive experience across a broad range of areas. They have particular expertise in working with hard-to-reach groups, including adults, adolescents, families and whānau who have been affected by violence.

Dr Tess Moeke-Maxwell, a Māori researcher who has worked extensively with survivors of sexual violence, will provide Māori expertise for the project. Hineroa Hakiaha, who was until recently a Senior Advisor (Māori) with the Mental Health Commission, will provide cultural support for Tess and the team.

Associate Professor Peggy Fairbairn-Dunlop, a key player in the Pacific women’s movement and Director of Victoria University’s Va’aomanu Pasifika, will provide Pacific expertise.

The researchers are due to report back to MWA by the end of the year.

The four work streams are:

1. an ‘environmental scan’ of systems, agencies and key informants that are available to adult victims of sexual violence, including case studies in three socially and geographically distinct areas
2. a study of pathways from crisis to recovery for adult victims of sexual violence, focusing on their experiences of engaging with formal and informal systems
3. a statistical analysis of attrition and outcomes for specified sexual violation offences against adults recorded by New Zealand Police between July 2005 and December 2007
4. a critical literature review outlining international and New Zealand perspectives on best practice in service delivery for victims, as well as challenges to implementing best practice in New Zealand.

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It’s all in the eyes

Women’s Refuge worker Berill Michelsen knows instantly when women who have suffered domestic violence decide they will no longer accept the abuse – she sees it in their eyes.

Berill says it is a moment in time but one she has come to immediately recognise.

‘I know at what point you have reached them, where you see that sudden change in their eyes and you think, right, she is on track. It may take a while but eventually something will happen.’

It is an ability borne out of thirty years of helping abused women and children turn their lives around and, for her efforts, earlier this year Nelson-based Berill was named inaugural Telecom Charitable Person of the Year.

Berill says when the staff at the Nelson Women’s Refuge told her they had put her name forward for the award, she did not take them seriously, ‘then the phone rang to say I had won it’. Telecom flew Berill, her daughter, and Nelson Women’s Refuge Manager, Cindy Kawana, to Wellington for the award presentation at Parliament.

Berill believes the work being done to expose domestic violence is making a difference. By bringing it out in the open she says even older women who have put up with violence for a long time are thinking ‘I have had a gutsful’.

She also believes that as a society we are becoming more violent, particularly with the advent of drugs such as methamphetamine, or ‘P’, which has led to more domestic murders.

‘We can get women coming to us who are so disempowered they are totally silenced – they say nothing.’

When she is not helping others, Berill says she enjoys her work with printing and textile design; walking in the outdoors wherever she can; going to the beach; cooking; and being with her grandchildren.

And even when she decides to stop, Berill says there is still a place for her at the refuge, ‘I sit alongside the kuia’.

The Women’s Refuge website is www.womensrefuge.org.nz.

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QSM for commitment to whānau

Women’s Refuge National Office kuia Mereana Mokikiwa Hutchen (Aunty Kiwa) has received a Queen’s Service Medal (QSM) for her services to Māori, women, and the community.

Aunty Kiwa has been involved with Women’s Refuge for 25 years, but has been active in social services across New Zealand at local, regional, and national levels for many more years than that.

Well into her seventies, Aunty Kiwa is an active caregiver for her mokopuna; serves on a number of Māori advisory boards and reference groups for the Ministry of Social Development and with the Christchurch City Council; and maintains involvement with Ngāi Tahu initiatives.

National Collective of Women’s Refuge Chief Executive Heather Henare said Aunty Kiwa had been a ‘rock’ for the organisation.

‘When we have an issue where we need some wisdom, she is the one we are likely to go to.’

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Stimulating and healthy activities for after-school care

Cooking classes, setting up edible gardens, producing material for the school’s FM radio station, and helping older children prepare for first jobs are just some of the after-school activities now available at four low-decile schools around New Zealand.

They are Extended Services and are part of the Government’s Out of School Services (OSS) five-year action plan. OSS are programmes and other arrangements that are in place for children aged five to fourteen before and after school and during the school holidays.

In the March 2007 Pānui we wrote about how nationwide consultation meetings with New Zealand families had revealed that many would like improved access to, and better quality of, out of school care services as they tried to balance paid work with caregiving responsibilities. Their views were represented in a Families Commission report When School’s Out.

We also wrote about a literature review produced by MWA that summarised New Zealand and international evidence about child and family outcomes arising from the use of OSS. Both the report and the literature review informed the government’s action plan on the Out of School Services sector.

Providers that are selected for Extended Services receive extra funding from government for three years. Funding allows providers to offer a wide range of activities that focus on improving the health and general well-being of children and young people.

The first four Extended Services began operating in February this year and the selection process for the second four has just been completed. The OSS action plan aims to have twelve Extended Services programmes operating at low-decile schools by 2010.

More information on OSS is available on the Ministry of Social Development website at www.msd.govt.nz/work-areas/families-whanau/

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Census report useful tool for women’s equality

The 2008 Census of Women’s Participation is a useful tool for raising awareness of gender inequity and for driving progress towards equality, Associate Justice Minister Lianne Dalziel and Women’s Affairs Minister Steve Chadwick said at the Census launch in March.

The biennial report, produced by the Human Rights Commission through the Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO) Programme, measures how well New Zealand is doing in the participation of women in leadership roles in the state sector, corporate, legal, academic, and other fields.

Lianne Dalziel said the data in the Census prodded all New Zealanders, both in the public and the private sectors, to improve women’s participation at all levels, but especially in leadership roles.

‘This Census provides an important yardstick in measuring our progress when reporting to bodies such as the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). The 2008 Census tells us we have made progress but also reminds us that we all still have work to do.

‘The Human Rights Commission rightly points out that it will take significant whole-of-government commitment to reach our self-imposed target of 50 percent women’s participation on state sector boards and committees by 2010. Our most recent figures show we have 42 percent participation. Closing that 8 percent gap by 2010 will require resolve and effort but we are going to do our utmost to achieve it.’

Steve Chadwick said that as Minister of Women’s Affairs, one area that particularly concerned her was the very low participation rates of women on company boards and in senior management.

‘I find it disturbing that less than 9 percent of the directors of companies listed on the New Zealand Stock Exchange are women and that only one company has more than two women directors. There is a lot of room for improvement.’

‘We all benefit when all New Zealanders are able to make their full contribution to our nation. The Census of Women’s Participation is a tool to help us get there.’

The Census can be viewed at the Human Rights Commission website www.hrc.co.nz/home/default.php.

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Ngā Mihi o Te Tau Hou

Matariki, the Māori New Year, began on 5 June.

Matariki is the Māori name for the groups of stars also known as the Pleiades star cluster or the Seven Sisters. The Māori New Year is marked by the rise of Matariki and the sighting of the next new moon. The pre-dawn rise of Matariki can be seen in the last few days of May every year and the New Year is marked at the sighting of the next new moon that occurs during June.

Today Matariki means celebrating the unique place in which we live and giving respect to the land we live on. Matariki is celebrated with education, remembrance, and the planting of new trees and crops. It is also seen as an important time for family to gather and reflect on the past and the future. Traditionally, celebrations lasted up to three days after the new moon had risen following Matariki becoming visible.

Ngā Mihi o Te Tau Hou

I tīmata a Matariki, te Tau Hou Māori, i te 5 o Pipiri.

Ko Matariki te kāhui whetū e kīia ana e te Pākehā ko Pleiades, ko ngā ‘Kōhine Tokowhitu’ rānei. Ko te aranga ake o Matariki me te kitenga o te kōhiti i muri mai e waitohu ana i te Tau Hou Māori. I ngā rā whakamutunga o Haratua i ia tau, ka kitea a Matariki e hāpai ake ana i te ata pō. Whai i muri mai, ko te kitenga o te kōhiti i te marama o Pipiri, koia e tohu ana kua eke tūturu te Tau Hou.

I ēnei rā, ko Matariki te wā e whakanuia ai, e whakamānawatia ai tēnei whenua ahurei e noho nei tātou. He wā mō te ruku i te mātauranga, mō te tuku tohu whakamaumahara, mō te whakatō rākau, mō te mahi māra. He wā anō e huihui ai ngā whānau, ka anga whakamuri ki ngā rā o mua, ka titiro anō ki ngā rā kei te heke iho. I ngā rā o nehe, atu i te kōhititanga, ka toru rā pea a Matariki e whakanuia ana.

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Women on the Move

Invercargill lawyer Christine French is now a New Zealand High Court Judge, the first woman in the South Island to be appointed to the bench.

Reverend Kahu Durie of Rangitane received a Queen’s Service Medal in April. Her service to Māori and the community includes more than four decades teaching te reo Māori in Whangarei and the Manawatu, being president of the Māori Women’s Welfare League’s Whangarei branch, being part of the Māori Anglican Pastorate for the past 25 years, and establishing the Māori chaplaincy service at Palmerston North Hospital.

Commerce Minister Lianne Dalziel has reappointed Miriam Dean QC as a member of the Testing Laboratory Registration Council for a three-year term.

Margaret Eames, Judge Margaret Lee, Valery Sim, and Lynette Stewart have all been appointed to a new Criminal Justice Advisory Board that will advise justice sector ministers on further improvements to the criminal justice system.

Judge Dale Clarkson has been appointed as chair of the New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal.

Judge Shona Kenderdine has been appointed as chair of the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement Board of Inquiry. The Board will get public feedback on a new national policy statement, which will guide councils on how to manage development along our coastline.

Auckland University Pacific architecture graduate Charmaine 'Ilaiu is the first Pacific Islander at the university to receive a research-based master of architecture.

Alice Clements from the Waikato has won the 2008 Ted Zorn Alumni award for management communication graduates who are excelling in their profession.

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Women on Boards

Karen Johansen

• Human Rights Commissioner (2008- )
• Principal, Gisborne Girls High School (1996-2008)
• Deputy Chair, Tairawhiti Polytechnic Council (1997- )
• Mentor, First time Principals’ Programme (2005- )
• Trustee, Tairawhiti Trust (1996- )

Gisborne-based Karen Johansen was appointed a Human Rights Commissioner in February this year, and recently left her job as Principal of Gisborne Girls High School. Karen is working with the Commission’s Ahi Kaa team, which provides leadership on human rights issues as they impact on Māori, and promotes those issues throughout the community. Her iwi affiliations are Rongowhakaata, Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki and Ngāi Tamunuhiri of the Gisborne/East Cape area.

MWA: Congratulations on your appointment! How do you get to be a Human Rights Commissioner?

I am listed on the MWA nominations database and MWA sent me the advertisement for the position. I took one look at it and the outline of the tasks and thought ‘I do that every day’. I had also been thinking that perhaps I needed a change so I decided to have a go. I have been appointed as a part-time Commissioner and I will be doing a lot of work around raising the profile of human rights in schools.

MWA: Tell us about the role of a Commissioner

The Commission consists of a Chief Commissioner, a Race Relations Commissioner, an Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO) Commissioner, and up to five other part-time Human Rights Commissioners. The Commissioners are responsible for governance of the Commission. We are responsible for setting policy direction, undertaking international responsibilities, and being accountable for the overall performance of the Commission. The Executive Director and staff are responsible for the day-to-day operation.

MWA: How did you feel when you heard about your appointment?

I feel enormously honoured to have been offered this position but there was also a lot of sadness at leaving a job that I loved. In my positions as Deputy Principal and Principal of Gisborne Girls High School I worked with the young women in my care to make sure they had all the opportunities that are possible to make their education journey a positive and happy one, and to get rid of all the barriers they may be facing. My job now is to apply that to all of New Zealand.

MWA: What advice would you have offered your students about getting into the same kinds of roles as you?

They need to believe in themselves. They need to access their allies, they need to allow themselves to dream, and they need to turn up every day. They must have a strong work ethic, strong self-belief, and never under-estimate the power of networks.

MWA: What do you do to relax when you get the opportunity?

I have a house around the East Cape with a big garden where I spend as much time as I can. I love to read, go swimming, and watch movies. I also love to travel and being with family and friends.

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In brief

Māori Language Week

Te Wiki o te Reo Māori (Māori Language Week) will be celebrated 21-27 July 2008. Te Wiki o te Reo Māori provides a time for special events to celebrate and promote the Māori language. Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori (The Māori Language Commission) presents awards to groups that make a particularly noteworthy contribution at this time.

The theme for Te Wiki o te Reo Māori 2008 is Te Reo i te Kāinga - Māori language in the home. There will be a special 'Kōrero Māori - Give it a go!' booklet produced to support people to kōrero Māori at home. For more information about Māori Language Week go to www.koreromaori.co.nz.

Breaks to breastfeed

The Employment Relations (Breaks and Infant Feeding) Amendment Bill has had its first reading in Parliament. Under the legislation, all employers will be required to provide appropriate facilities and breaks for employees who wish to breastfeed or express breast milk at work, where reasonable and practicable.

Volunteer Awareness Week

More than one million New Zealanders are actively involved in volunteer work. The 2006 Census showed that the numbers of women undertaking voluntary work for or through an organisation, group or marae peak between the ages of 40-44 and 65-69 years.

Volunteer Awareness Week (VAW) is an opportunity to highlight volunteering and the wide range of volunteering roles available within the community. It also aims to encourage first-timers to give volunteering a go. This year, VAW will be held from Sunday 15 to Saturday 21 June 2008. For more information go to www.volunteeringnz.org.nz.

New Family Violence Death Review Committee

The establishment of a Family Violence Death Review Committee was announced in April by Health Minister David Cunliffe and Associate Health Minister Steve Chadwick. The aim of the Committee is to reduce family violence and family violence deaths. Made up of eight members, it will identify trends, provide information to researchers, review circumstances surrounding deaths, conduct specific reviews of clusters/subgroups of family violence deaths and participate in local family violence death reviews.

Suicide Prevention Action Plan

The New Zealand Suicide Prevention Action Plan 2008-2012 was launched in March. Each year approximately 500 New Zealanders die by suicide, more than the number that die from motor vehicle accidents. Males continue to have a higher suicide rate than females. From 2003-2005 there were 3.1 male suicides to every female suicide. Among females, those aged 15 to 24 years had the highest suicide rates. Among males, those aged 25 to 44 years had the highest suicide rate. The rate for Māori was higher than for non-Māori for both males and females.

While the suicide death rate is higher for males, more females than males are hospitalised for intentional self-harm. In 2006 the rate for female intentional self-harm in New Zealand was twice that of males.

From 1921-1987, suicide deaths were most common in those aged over 45 years. Since 1987, however, suicide deaths have been most common in those aged 15 to 24 years, followed by those aged 25 to 44 years.

The Action Plan is available online at www.spinz.org.nz Hard copies are available from Suicide Prevention Information New Zealand by contacting info@spinz.org.nz or telephone (09) 300 7035. MWA is represented on the Inter-Agency Committee for Suicide Prevention.

Management training

The New Zealand Institute of Management Inc. offers two training and development programmes specifically for women, Women in Management and Women Leading. More information about these can be found at www.nzimcentral.co.nz under Training and Development, or phone Antony Zogg or Nick Patterson, (04) 495 8300.

New Zealand Carers’ Strategy

Nearly 420,000 New Zealanders care for family members and friends who need help with everyday living because of ill health, disability, or old age.

The New Zealand Carers’ Strategy and supporting Five-Year Action Plan, which was launched in April, will help and support the carers. The Strategy is a joint initiative between the government and the New Zealand Carers’ Alliance, a network of 45 non-governmental organisations, and was developed following extensive consultation meetings held around the country with carers and their supporters.

More information on the Carers' Strategy is available at www.carers.net.nz.

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