Visa statement from Women’s Refuge

Friday Sept 21, 2012

No young person should ever be silenced by Domestic Violence, says Women’s Refuge Chief Executive Heather Henare.

Ms Henare was responding today to a news story about a young Taranaki man who called the police when he woke up to find his father beating up his mum. The family visas were linked to the man’s work visa, and after a jail sentence he was deported a few months ago.

Now the family is fighting a losing battle to remain in New Zealand. “There is a definite loophole around this kind of situation,” says Ms Henare.

“Men who are abusive, and have control over a visa requirement are provided by law, with a fantastic weapon to keep their behaviour undetected from the outside world.”

“In this case it was the brave actions of a great young man that helped to save his mother. It is terrible that this has turned into him regretting his actions,” she says. “He should be treated like a hero for speaking out.”

Women’s Refuge is keen to provide feedback to a planned review of the law. “We welcome consultation in the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employments’ review process around section 4.5 of the Immigration Operational Manual,” says Ms Henare.

© Scoop Media