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January 20, 2017 at 12:29 PM

Deficient policing detailed

Investigations into the officers who dealt with Edward Livingstone revealed ''systemic failures and issues'' among Dunedin police in the lead-up to the tragic deaths of his two children.

The employment investigations which followed the deaths of Bradley (9) and Ellen (6) Livingstone at the hands of their father uncovered breaches of the police code of conduct by officers, a report about police handling of the case has revealed.

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Life-long trauma: When mothers sexually abuse their sons

"I am very sorry I brought you so much pain," Marcus* wrote in his final letter, "Thank you for caring for me. I know I didn't deserve it."

Marcus died by suicide two years ago and when he did, he left University of Canberra researcher Lucetta Thomas a message.

The sentence that stayed with her was this one: "The only course of action is for you to do something positive, like finish the PhD."

To an outsider, these could be understood as simple words of encouragement. Lucetta knew their real meaning; this was an urgent final plea.

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The young and the homeless: New Zealand’s big human rights fail

A group of AUT students have banded together to make a documentary on our growing homelessness problem – and to argue that by failing to act, New Zealand could be in contravention of its international human rights obligations.

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Sex abuse survivor: I'm taking my life back, I'm not your victim anymore

This is Galina Velas.

She was sexually abused by her stepfather, Mihail Bourduk, and she wants you to hear her story.

Bourduk, who lives in Torbay with his second wife, did things to Velas that were described as "repugnant" in court. As a result, she lost control of her life.

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Autistic teen put in police cell as agencies refuse care

An autistic 14-year-old boy has had to spend a night in police cells this week and has been in and out of court with no agencies willing to take him into their care.

He will spend the weekend in an unstaffed, IHC-provided house with only one bed and no fridge and his father will provide care because the family has no other support.

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Man charged with indecent assault at kids' holiday programme

A man has been charged with indecently assaulting a child who was on a school holiday programme at the time, police say.

Detective Sergeant Brian Cameron said the 56-year-old Canterbury man was arrested following an incident at a school holiday programme at Alexandra Primary School on Thursday.

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Wellington police receive 200 reports of family violence during Christmas week

Family violence continues to increase in Wellington during the Christmas period, with more than 200 incidents reported to police last week.

Wellington police attend more than 10,000 family violence incidents each year, but police research shows it is significantly under-reported, with people "turning a blind eye" to 75 per cent of incidents.

Wellington district family violence co-ordinator Detective Senior Sergeant Ian Martin is urging family members and neighbours to intervene to prevent family violence and the harm that results.

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Tonga domestic violence calls double over Christmas

Reports of domestic violence incidents in Tonga have nearly doubled over Christmas according to the Director of the Tonga Women and Children's Crisis Centre.

The centres' director Ofa Guttenbeil-Likiliki said she was concerned at the number of calls coming through the centre's 24 hour phone line during the Christmas break.

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Does New Zealand really have a porn problem?

Opinion - A lack of confidence with intimacy is New Zealand's real problem with sex, not what we view on our devices.

Statistics released by Pornhub this week claiming that New Zealanders are the fifth highest users of the pornography website give me cause for concern. Releasing these stats is only a marketing ploy to get traffic to their site and to gain credibility for the company, but is that credibility justified?

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Hairdressers recruited in battle against domestic violence

An Illinois law that takes effect today aims to take advantage of the trusted relationship between hairstylists and their clients to prevent domestic violence.

Stylists, barbers, cosmetologists, estheticians, hair braiders and nail technicians in Illinois will receive an hour of mandated abuse-prevention training as part of the licensing process.

The law does not require them to report any violence, and it shelters them from any liability.

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Brad Markham: Hairdressers say 'It's not OK'

OPINION: What sort of a relationship do you have with your hairdresser or barber? We share a special bond with the talented, scissor-wielding artists who make a living transforming our overgrown mops into stylish fashion statements.

They're often the only people who know our real hair colour. But some are entrusted with more painful secrets.

Lawmakers in the US state of Illinois are keen to take advantage of those intimate relationships to help men and women trapped in violent relationships and showing signs of abuse.

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