Women’s Refuge shows a 12% increase Women’s Refuge has announced an 11.6% increase in the number of women and children using their safe house accommodation in the year ending June 2011, in statistics released today.“Every night of our last financial year an average of 230 women and children stayed in one of our 45 refuge safe houses,” says Women’s Refuge Chief Executive Heather Henare. “This is nearly 12% up on last year. The women and children also needed to stay longer. The average... Read more

After a brilliant All Black victory on Sunday night Women’s Refuge is putting out a salient reminder asking everyone to act responsibly whatever the outcome of this Sunday's final. “Unfortunately one team will lose. If you win that's great, but if you lose its okay to commiserate but please don’t take it out on your nearest and dearest, be they your partner or kids,” says Women's Refuge Chief Executive Heather Henare. So far Women’s Refuge has not noticed a huge spike... Read more

The first major weekend for the Rugby World Cup has proven to be a quiet weekend for Women’s Refuges throughout New Zealand.“It appears that our crisis line calls have been average to quiet,” says Refuge spokeswoman Kiri Hannifin. “It will be a few weeks before our database can show us some trends, but a call out to our 45 affiliated Refuges on Monday shows that it pretty much was business as usual.”Ms Hannifin warns that this could all change as pressure intensifies... Read more

A 22 year dream to create a purpose built housing unit for families repairing themselves from family violence has come to fruition today. Built by a collaboration of local construction firms and assisted by members of Te Ao Marama Unit of Waikeria prison, today, Te Whakaruruhau Inc which includes two large houses was opened in Hamilton East by Mins Pita Sharples and Tariana Turia in a traditional Maori powhiri attended by 200 people. The goal of providing a space where not only women and... Read more

Women’s Refuge is to explore whether things are getting better or worse for New Zealand's women, children and families when it hosts a 'State of the Nation Summit' on 28 September at Circa Theatre in Wellington. "We have asked a number of experts to come and share their expertise and experience on how it is in New Zealand right now for our women and children - especially our most vulnerable," says Heather Henare, Women’s Refuge Chief Executive. "If you are interested... Read more

Kati ra, tēnā koutou katoa Koutou nga whakaruruhau e kui ma, e koro ma, nga mihi E tika ana kia hoki whakaaro ki a ratou kua wehe atu ki te po i nga rangi, i nga wiki, i nga marama kua pahure Norei ra me mihi, me tangi, haere haere atu ra, huri atu te po, nau mai te ao Tena tatou, i runga i te kaupapa i whiriwhiria ia tatou katoa norei ra Tēnā koutou Tēnā koutou katoa It is an honour to be here with you today and to be the opening speech of the Te Roopu Wahine Maori Toko Ite Ora... Read more

The last person you would expect to see chatting away in a knitting circle is a male prisoner. But in New Plymouth Prison a small group of men are challenging that perception.The seven prisoners have been knitting blanket squares, beanies and are now moving on to slippers as part of a weekly knitting workshop run by Prisoners Aid and Rehabilitation Society volunteers.Some of the men have really shown their dedication by knitting away in their cells for hours in the evening. This morning the knitted... Read more

Staff at the Otautahi Women’s Refuge in Christchurch say many Maori women are putting up with domestic violence while they struggle to cope with other stresses in their lives. Otautahi is the only Women’s Refuge in the South Island dedicated to Maori women. Its manager Kumeroa Johnston says, like other refuges in Christchurch, Otautahi has seen a steady flow of women using its services since the earthquakes started last September. “But we also know there are many wahine in... Read more

Every night, throughout New Zealand, 206 women and children are so afraid in their own homes, they need to stay at a Women’s Refuge safe house. And the numbers are increasing, last year rising by 30 beds a night, or eight percent, over the previous year. “Women's Refuge needs $30,000 every day to provide these critical services and keep the doors of our 45 affiliated Refuges open,” says the Chief Executive of Women's Refuge, Ms Heather Henare. The Government fund 60% of this... Read more

A lot is happening for Women’s Refuge this year with the release of their revised logo and website. Supported by Hon Paula Bennett, MP these new components were launched alongside a brand new approach to their national annual appeal on July 13. “We have been pretty busy bringing all these activities together,” says Women’s Refuge Chief Executive Heather Henare. “Many people know our kowhai logo embraced by a women’s symbol. Our 1000 Refuge workers and volunteers love this image so... Read more

Women's Refuge workers in Christchurch, once again, need support for the hundreds of families they deal with in the community. "I am not sure if people outside of Christchurch really know how bad this is for us," says Lois Herbert, Manager of the Battered Women's Trust. "Feb 22 was a 6.2 quake and Monday was a 6.3. We have the same eastern suburbs broken and shaken once again, people coming home to find they have NO crockery, no water , no power, and liquefaction covering roads and properties We... Read more

For many battered women a refuge provides the only means of escape from a violent relationship, but the offer of a safe bed is now under threat. Women's Refuge CEO Heather Henare talks about the proposed funding cuts to Women's Refuge.
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Women's Refuge CEO Heather Henare reminds us that even in times of natural disaster and extreme stress, domestic violence is never okay.
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Women’s Refuge spokesperson Kiri Hannifin discusses the rise of domestic violence over the Christmas period.
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Every night, throughout New Zealand, 206 women and children need to spend a night in a Women’s Refuge safe house.“Last year we had 75,000 bednights used by women and children who sadly, felt unsafe to stay in their own beds,” says the Chief Executive of the National Collective of Independent Women’s Refuges Ms Heather Henare. “This amounts to 30 more people per night compared to 2009 statistics and shows an 8% increase in families using our safe house services.”... Read more

From companies providing food and supplies through to a huge $98,000 from BNZ staff nationwide, the National Collective of Independent Women's Refuges (NCIWR) thanks all donors who gave generously to Women’s Refuges impacted by the February quake.“We knew pretty quickly that our refuges in Christchurch had big problems which ranged from damaged vehicles; no phones, food, cash or fuel; to safe house damage,” says Women’s Refuge CEO Heather Henare.The NCIWR has four member refuges based in... Read more

The Hamilton High Court today handed down a sentence of 11 years non-parole to Gregory Meads for the brutal murder of his wife Helen Meads.Mrs Meads had just made the decision to leave Mr Meads after an extended period of abuse. The decision to leave is one of the most dangerous times for women leaving violent relationships, says Heather Henare, Women's Refuge Chief Executive."We see time and time again already violent men escalate their violent behaviour when they discover their partner has... Read more

“One third of people killed in New Zealand last year were killed by people within their families,” says Heather Henare, Chief Executive of Women's Refuge.Police statistics released today state that 25 of the 72 homicides in New Zealand are attributable to family violence. The report also shows that the majority of perpetrators of murders in New Zealand are men.Police report 65,000 family violence related calls over the report's period, and express concern that around 80% of all family... Read more

Women’s Refuge is saddened by the devastation that has happened as a result of yesterday’s earthquake. While we are all shocked by the loss of life, Women’s Refuge CEO Heather Henare asks families to be extra careful in the way they deal with stress and relationships following the quake. “In the week following the September quake, there was a 53% increase in domestic violence incidents reported to the police and in the 30 days after, Refuge statistics increased by 30%,”... Read more