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November 10, 2016 at 4:36 PM

Hollie Smith’s new song to help domestic violence victims

By the end of the half-hour duration of Story, police will have been called to at least one domestic violence incident.

On average, police record a family violence investigation every five-and-a-half minutes. The statistics are shameful and appalling with one in three women experiencing an abusive relationship with many more coming dangerously close.

Now, one of our top singers, Hollie Smith, has written and recorded a song to help those affected by domestic violence. It's written for those abused, beaten and manipulated by their partners and it hopes to inspire and give them strength and support.

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Changes are good, but are they the right ones?

Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) says that some recent changes to CYF, such as extending state care to 18 and possibly older are welcome moves by the Government. However there are other changes that are cause for grave concern.

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Murdered teen's mother remembers the 'bright spark' lost

The mother of a murdered teenager says she felt numb seeing her killer in court, and now just wants to remember the "bright spark" that has been lost.

Paul Keith Skipper, 40, pleaded guilty to murdering Te Awhiahua "Awhi" Toko, 17, in Naenae, Lower Hutt, on April 17. At the High Court in Wellington on Tuesday, he was sentenced to serve at least 16 years of a life jail term.

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One in seven disabled kids sexually abused

Up to one in seven Australian children with disabilities are likely to experience sexual abuse, a new report suggests.

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse report, released on Monday, found that between nine and 14 in every 100 children with disabilities would probably experience sexual abuse.

The findings were drawn from reliable international data by researchers from the Centre for Disability Research and Policy at the University of Sydney, the royal commission said.

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Sisters waive right to name suppression to help sex abuse survivors

Two Auckland sisters have waived their right to anonymity so they can name their stepfather who sexually abused them.

Celeste and Tiana Smith were abused for years by Ira Hayes Ricky Manamana, 43, who was last week sentenced at the Waitakere District Court to 16 years in jail with a minimum non-parole period of eight years.

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Fighting back against domestic violence

Daniella Smith was NZ's number one boxer, gaining multiple national and Oceania titles in her 15-year career but it was at home where she faced her toughest battle.

After working with ladies from the Women's Refuge, Smith has found the courage to share her own story of abuse and for the first time talk publicly about it.

Smith was relentless in the ring, but she was the one taking the hits at home.

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Increasing the age for children in care: What does it mean?

Many of us were delighted that finally the Government is planning to legislate for a change for children in care who are currently automatically discharged from care on reaching the age of 17. The new arrangements will see children having the option and possibility of remaining formally in care until the age of 21 and possibly beyond this point until the age 
of 25. This is a particularly vulnerable group of young people, and abandoning responsibility for them once they reach the age of 17 has never made sense. As one researcher described it, it could be characterised as: ‘Happy birthday, goodbye.’

But, there are no details in the announcement. So, let’s ask some critical questions.

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Rheumatic fever rates fail to fall in central Auckland, Waitemata

The Government is reshuffling money to bolster its rheumatic fever prevention programme throughout much of greater Auckland after officials admitted targets are not being met.

In the year to June, the 31 new cases of the potentially fatal disease in the Waitemata and central Auckland health districts were at least double the target level.

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