MEDIA STATEMENT
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 11 2012

Australasian Conference Confronts NZ'S 'appalling' Rates of Family Violence

New Zealand domestic and family violence experts will debate the next steps in mobilising Kiwi men towards effective action at a major Australasian conference this month (November).

The National Network of Stopping Violence, Te Kupenga, is an official supporter of the No To Violence 2012 Australasian Conference on Responses to Men’s Domestic and Family Violence taking place in Melbourne this week (Wednesday-Friday, November 14-16 2012).

Brian Gardner – National Manager of Strategic Relationships and Advocacy at Te Kupenga – says the theme, ‘Experience, Innovations and Emerging Directions’, is timely. The three-day symposium will feature three plenary sessions and more than 80 workshops.

“In New Zealand, we are struggling to address our appalling rates of domestic violence – the ongoing fatalities of women and of children means our work is far from done. Taking the opportunity to talk frankly with others and to look at what makes a real difference is critical to our success and community safety,” Mr Gardner says.

“There is a real air of honest reflection and desire to build on what we already know in men’s behaviour change and domestic and family violence offender work – not only in Australasia but also internationally. Experts in the field are talking about a move towards a ‘second generation’ of programmes with men. This conference will be an important opportunity for policy makers, judicial workers and other stakeholders to understand the realities and complexities of this work."

New Zealand delegates will present a number of workshops at No To Violence covering a range of themes:

Brian Gardner and Parekotuku Moore: ‘Bold new vision or slippery slope to oblivion?’

Parekotuku Moore, Darrin Haimona, Ariana Simpson and Roni (Ruahine) Albert: ‘Kia Rangatira Te Mahi – Best Practice Framework – work of the Chiefs (Part 1)’

Tania Mataki, Daniel Mataki and Patariki Hippolite: ‘Kia Rangatira Te Mahi – Best Practice Framework – work of the Chiefs (Part 2)’

Ken McMaster and Mike Cagney: ‘Family resolution and domestic violence programme outcomes – what is ‘safety and accountability’ in real terms’; and ‘Externalising the internalised ‘abuser’ – moving from ‘education’ to ‘education and therapy’’

Ian Gault: ‘Macho man – hyper-masculinity and adolescent dating violence’

Daryl Gregory and Nicola Woodward: ‘Family violence early intervention for men and peer support leadership – innovative initiatives at Christchurch Women’s Refuge’; and ‘Inspiring transformational change within family violence – exploring the ‘tipping point’ factors’’

Tangi Hepi and Tim Marshall: ‘Tauawhi Men’s Centre – an innovative approach to inspiring change in men’

Monique Dalrymple and Hemi Te Hemi: ‘Introducing bicultural collaboration in the Enabling Youth Managing Anger programme’

Garth Baker: ‘Saying no to violence and yes to what’

Kay Wilton: ‘Wairarapa Family Violence Network – intervention strategy’

Inspector Brigitte Nimmo: ‘Building a best practice family violence response for New Zealand Police’

Dr Donna Swift: ‘He said and she did – the patriarchy behind teenage girls’ violence’

Mr Gardner says the New Zealand delegation is looking forward to the productive, passionate and exploratory conversations about their work and where it is heading.

"We are all hugely committed to violence-free communities and we are up for challenging ourselves, the Government and all New Zealanders about what we need to do to make Aotearoa the safest country in the world.”

No To Violence 2012 is being organised by the No To Violence Male Family Violence Prevention Association (Australia). For further information about the conference, go to www.ntv.org.au.

Te Kupenga is a network of 42 independent community-based groups – from Whangarei to Invercargill – working to end violence and abuse in families. For more information, go to www.nnsvs.org.nz.

Ends

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