An Open Invitation to New Zealand’s High Profile Women

Issued by the Sensible Sentencing Trust

22nd September 2016
The Sensible Sentencing Trust is calling upon the same high profile New Zealand women who spoke up recently regarding the culture within the NZRU in the midst of the Chiefs scandal to voice their dismay at the sentencing of Nikolas Delegat.

“Get drunk, bash a woman, worse still, bash a police woman, render her unconscious then keep bashing, fulfill a few criteria then enjoy some gardening in the sunlight is not the way to address the serious problem this country faces with its culture of binge drinking and violence towards women, said Garth McVicar, founder, Sensible Sentencing Trust.

For any resident in Dunedin the sentence is probably another dull thud especially when Mayor David Cull, as recently as May 2015 confirmed that ‘pressing action’ was needed to curb excesses of alcohol fueled behaviour. It also makes nonsense of the Universities attempts to provide a safety net for students when their own Campus watch gets kneed in the face having slumped to the floor in the process of seeking to prevent harm.

In issuing their message the Trust highlights that it is only weeks since an open letter was penned by high profile New Zealand women, including Dame Susan Devoy, Louise Nicholas and Dr Jackie Blue.

The group essentially called for the management of our sporting elite to review their handling of an incident where It a woman claimed she had been victim to less than ideal behaviour.

That letter, according to Mr McVicar, achieved its aim and was an excellent example of the power of both the media and influence.

According to Mr McVicar the media exposure granted through the commentary provided the wakeup call that was needed then – and is needed now.

“Despite the perspective that because we weren’t n the courtroom we should withhold comment the facts remain and justice has not been seen to be done.”

“If anything our judicial system is reinforcing the view that bashing women is OK, bashing a police women serving in the line of duty is OK and that alcohol fueled violence is OK.”

McVicar said, “It certainly makes a mockery of the Its Not OK campaign and is an insult to every woman and every person serving in the line of duty when the light fisted sentence enables the horrific nature of this crime to be side stepped.”

“Further, the commentary of our legal profession in seeking to discredit the widely held views of all New Zealanders only reinforces the fact that the legal profession sees itself as not only administering the law but retaining a degree of blindness to how its delivery can be improved.”

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