Weekly Media Round up

July 15, 2016 at 10:24 AM

Weekly Media Round up

Family violence incidents increasing:

The number of family violence incidents attended in New Zealand last year increased by more than 8000, according to new stats.

The Family Violence Clearinghouse annual data summaries, released to the public today, shows that in 2015 police investigated 110,114 family violence incidents - up from 101.981 in 2014 and 95,070 in 2013.

Of the incidents investigated last year, 35 per cent were at homes where police had previously visited for similar calls for help.

Norm Hewitt and Manu Bennett find a way to put bullying behind them:

Often, when lives collide in an act of violence and bullying, there is little hope of a way back, and the incident can affect people for the rest of their lives.

But for those who seek reconciliation, the rewards can be life-changing, as it has been for two prominent Kiwi men, 1990s All Black Norm Hewitt and actor Manu Bennett, who have revealed their traumatic life stories for the Prime documentary Making Good Men.

Andrew Becroft Interviewed by Jessica Mutch:

The new Children’s Commissioner, Andrew Becroft, says the youth justice system is “tough when it needs to be” – and that public perception that it’s not is wrong.

He told Jessica Mutch on TV One’s Q+A programme that one example of that is a 14 year old who received seven years in prison for “two serious predatory suburban rapes” – and that it was right he was held to account.

However, Judge Becroft says teens up to the age of 17 should be part of the youth justice system.

Children's Commissioner: 'We're a country of extremes, we're a country of inequality':

Child poverty is front and centre of disadvantage in New Zealand and now is the right time to drive through huge improvements, Andrew Becroft says.

The Children's Commissioner has just finished his first week in the job and he says while the government is ready to make changes it needs to be a collective, collaborative approach.

Teachers 'unconscious bias' making Maori students fail:

A new study is blaming teachers for low achievement amongst Maori students, saying their "unconscious bias" is causing Maori to fail.

The report Unconscious Bias in Education said teachers' low expectations of Maori children had led to decades of under-achievement.

A hierarchy was developing among teachers, so they expected the best results from Asian students, followed by Pakeha, Pasifika, then Maori, one of the study's authors Anton Blank said.

The complex paths to homelessness:

Only a small percentage of the country's homeless community are sleeping rough by choice. Why are so many people out on the streets? Hannah Martin reports.

"All people lead hard lives, but street people have it the hardest."

Samuel* has been sleeping rough for four years.

It is 3pm and he is just waking up. He says lately he has to sleep most of the day to get through the cold.

After his mother died, Samuel didn't have any family to support him and he ended up on the streets.

Jake the Muss takes powerful stand against domestic violence:

Actor Temuera Morrison has described in a powerful video for Women's Refuge how the violent character Jake the Muss has become part of his make-up.

Morrison, who shot to worldwide fame playing Jake in 1994's Once Were Warriors, describes how he got so deep into the role that he started to believe in it.

"That character is there with me for life now," Morrison says.

New cyber-law research centre to study Harmful Digital Communications Act:

The New Zealand Centre for ICT Law is scheduled to open at the University of Auckland in July 2016. The Centre will research the impact electronic technology has on the law.

The first project of the new Centre will be examining the H armful Digital Communications Act. In the first year since the legislation was implemented, 38 cases have come before the courts.

New Ethnic Communities Development Fund announced:

Ethnic Communities Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga announced the new Ethnic Communities Development Fund (ECDF) will replace the Settling In fund.

The new fund is designed to support the ongoing and long-term settlement process for people and communities. The fund has three categories: leadership development, social cohesion and cultural events.

The Latest: Man shot girlfriend before police killed him:

SELMA, Ala. (AP) " The Latest on the fatal shooting of a man during a domestic dispute in Alabama (all times local):

11:55 a.m.

Authorities say an Alabama officer shot and killed a man who shot his girlfriend during a domestic dispute and fired at police when they arrived.

Dallas County District Attorney Michael Jackson says the man shot his girlfriend in front of her children because "he felt like she came home too late." The State Bureau of Investigation said in a news release that the Selma Police Department was called to a home Thursday night because of the dispute.

Police family violence disclosure scheme helping victims- Collins:

The new Police Family Violence Information Disclosure Scheme is providing victims and potential victims with the information they need to leave potentially dangerous situations, Police Minister Judith Collins says.

A total of 38 cases have been referred to the scheme since it was launched in December 2015.

A request for the disclosure may be made to the Police by the partner of the potentially violent person, or a concerned third party.

"People have the right to know about a partner or potential partner’s violent past in order to make an informed decision about their own safety and whether or not they want to continue that relationship," Ms Collins says.

NRL: Kiwi survivor now reality star:

Appearing on The NRL Rookie, and having his flaws as a rugby league player exposed, has been a difficult experience for Reece Joyce but it's been nothing compared to what he's already been through.

The 24-year-old is one of four Kiwi-born contestants picked from more than 1200 applicants on an Australian reality TV show trying to find an unknown talent, with the winner guaranteed an NRL contract. It's rugby league's version of X-Factor and survival of the fittest.

Stop Pretending Domestic Violence Only Affects Straight Couples:

Maria* was 16 years old when she first met her ex-partner, Hannah*. Growing up in a sheltered, anti-gay household, Maria struggled with her sexual identity all through high school.

"I had little to no exposure to queer people growing up. I'd spent a lot of that time period being afraid that I was very different and I was going to be alone," she explains. "Hannah seemed perfect in every way. She was sweet, kind, gentle. I'd never been in love before so it was jarring to think I'd actually found someone so much like me... That I wasn't actually going to be alone my whole life."

Maori much more likely to be killed by partner:

Maori are three times more likely to be killed by a partner than non-Maori, according to figures obtained under the Official Information Act.

The figures, released to Newstalk ZB and covering the years between 2009 and 2013, show Maori are almost three times more likely to be killed by their intimate partners than non-Maori or non-Pacific peoples. They're also two and a half times more likely to be offenders in intimate partner homicide cases.

Govt programme slammed as 'band-aid response':

The government is scrapping an established programme for at-risk families for a new one which critics say is not as good.

More than a quarter of the 114 Strengthening Families contracts in 10 areas are being cancelled and $1.3 million reallocated to the newly established Children's Teams.

The Ministry of Social Development says it's about avoiding duplication, but opponents say there's no evidence to show the new system will work.

Chch programme aims to reduce family violence:

A new scheme focusing on high-risk victims and perpetrators aims to reduce the number of people being beaten and killed by loved ones in Christchurch.

The pilot programme, announced on Monday, sees government agencies and community groups working together to focus their efforts on supporting families experiencing domestic violence to prevent further harm.

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Weekly Media Round up

July 15, 2016 at 10:24 AM

Weekly Media Round up