27 April 2012
“Everyone should learn the danger signs of violent relationships and know how to support and assist women when one ends,” says Women’s Refuge Chief Executive Heather Henare.
Ms Henare’s comments come in response to the release today of a Coroners issue findings into the death of Nicole Barker in Easter 2010 in a murder suicide from her estranged partner Thomas Hiki.
“Sadly, the Coroners findings underscore the need for more to be done to raise awareness about... Read
more28 March 2012
One in three women surveyed in a recent groundbreaking New Zealand study reported delaying leaving violent relationships because they feared their pets and other animals would be killed or tortured. Of these, one quarter said their children had witnessed violence against animals.
‘Pets as Pawns’ was commissioned by the Royal New Zealand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to... Read
more12 March 2012
On the morning of 23 September 2009 Helen Meads was murdered by her husband Greg at the stables on their Matamata farm. It was the final chapter in years of control and abuse. The White Ribbon Campaign and Women’s Refuge on the 12 March at 4:30pm will host the launch of David White’s book, Helen, the Helen Meads Tragedy at an event at Te Puni Kōkiri, where David will speak alongside Women’s Refuge Chief Executive Heather Henare and the White Ribbon Committee Chairperson, Brian... Read
more29 February 2012
For five years the Te Whare Oranga Wairua Maori Women's Refuge has had a trusty van until last Thursday night.It was stolen from outside their community office and it has not been located by the Refuge or Police. “Wheels are crucial to our work,” says Manager Mahia Henderson Te Tomo . “This van has collected hundreds of women and children from dangerous homes, or to ferry them around to meetings and appointments. We use our van to deliver children to schools when their mums have to live... Read
more13 January 2012
Those searching for Valentines Day cards today and tomorrow may be in for a shock. Placed among the cards are some with a less than idyllic message inside.
The cards, which have a traditional Valentines Day exterior containing a darker message inside, are part of a campaign designed by ad agency Saatchi & Saatchi to remind New Zealanders that for some women, love has a very different outcome.
The campaign aims to bring domestic abuse into the open and encourages New Zealanders to take a... Read
more24 Jan 2012
It is a 17 year old man who is the spokesperson for Women’s Refuge at the popular Parachute music festival in Hamilton this year.
Johny O’Donnell is outspoken about the role young people have in stopping violence. When he was 15 he was one of three Nelson college students who began a movement called SAVE, students against violence everywhere. He will be speaking on Ending Relationship Violence to young people at the popular Parachute Music festival.
“Women’s Refuge is... Read
more17 January 2012
For some refuges in New Zealand it has been a record holiday season with high numbers of women and children using services between Dec 23 and January 14th.“Many refuges have had their busiest year in 25 years, or a 100% increase in referrals or calls,” says Chief Executive Heather Henare. “A recent call out to our 45 independent affiliated refuges has shown that it has definitely been a busy season for women seeking help for domestic violence issues over the holiday period. There... Read
more15 November, 2011
Women’s Refuge has welcomed the announcement made by Phil Goff and Annette King yesterday to reinstate $700,000 last over the past 18 months within the family violence sector.Labour announced their intention to reinstate the $382,000 Women’s Refuge lost from their baseline funding this year and the $300,000 in lost in contracts for Te Rito family violence coordinators and child advocates. Chief Executive of Women’s Refuges, Ms Henare said “while political support for policies... Read
more3 November, 2011
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
more18 October, 2011
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
more13 September 2011
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
more8 September, 2011
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
more6 September 2011
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
more1 September 2011
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
more20 July 2011
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... Read
more21 April 2011
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
more12 April 2011
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
more01 April 2011
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
more01 April 2011
“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
more23 February 2011
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
more28 August 2010
Women's Refuge Chief Executive, Heather Henare, was thrilled to attend the launch of the book Hidden in Front of Us this week at Parliament.
The book, written by Anthea Simcock and Lee-Anne Duncan, outlines the experience of twenty-four adult survivors of child abuse.
"Child abuse is very difficult to talk about which is why this book is so important. The book openly discusses child abuse and provides a way for all New Zealanders to get information about this enormous problem."
"The... Read
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