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MEN, IT’S TIME TO STAND UP 11 1 third of NZ Women experience physical or sexual violence
in four women from high-income homes experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime
case is one case too many
BY JAIME PITT-MACKAY JAIME.P@THEGUARDIAN.CO.NZ
An incredibly bright spotlight has been shining on New Zealand’s culture around the treatment of women this week and a Mid Canterbury family violence worker has a simple message – if you are not part of the problem, then be part of the solution. British backpacker Grace Millane was believed to have been murdered earlier this month, an incident that has brought nation-
wide attention to the treatment of women in this country. Safer Families Ashburton family violence co-ordinator, Anna Arrowsmith, said that while what has happened is heart-breaking, the response has been incredible. “There has been a real presence on Facebook of men saying this is our problem to fix,” she said. “It goes way back and just sums up how men now have to back other men to respect women.” Arrowsmith said things as sim-
ple of cat-calling and wolf-whistling are simple ways of disrespecting women. “It is about men not being bystanders,” she said. “We have the worst rates of intimate partner violence and there have already been 14 women killed in New Zealand this year. “I just think that New Zealand needs a shift in attitude, if you are not part of the problem, then be part of the solution.” Stats from the police for charg-
es, diversion and court action for assault, attempted murder, harassment and threatening behaviour, manslaughter and driving causing death and murder are all dominated by male offenders in the Mid/South Canterbury area. From July 2014 to October 2018, 81.4 per cent of the above crimes were committed by males, with the most being aged between 20 and 24, with 356 crimes in that period. The next worst age group for
offending was 25 to 29, with 277 offences. A majority of the victims are known to the offenders, with 267 crimes being as recorded against a partner, 307 another relative and 204 ex-partners. Arrowsmith said that unfortunately statistics did not often give a full picture of what was going on. “Often it is just the tip of the iceberg, that is only the reported violence,” she said.
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