Weekly Media Round up

May 13, 2016 at 10:29 AM

Grandfather drunkely planned murder:

Drunk on two litres of red wine, with years of resentment bubbling inside him, an Auckland grandfather laid out three knives in preparation for his wife's return from church.

When she got home, Mataafa Taoipu Ae picked up one of the weapons and chased her as she fled down the street.

"Even as she took refuge in a stranger's home, you continued the pursuit, determined to hunt her down," Justice Simon Moore said.

Family violence victims who kill abusers should have self-defence claim: Law Commission:

Victims of family violence who kill their abusers should be able to claim self-defence more easily, the Law Commission says.

The commission's report on family violence laws, requested by the Government, has recommended lowering the threshold for self-defence to help women who "have endured years of trauma and abuse".

In its report, the Law Commission said New Zealand had the highest reported rate of family violence in the developed world.

Government announces future of social sector trials:

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley has announced future plans for the 16 social sector trials.

The first trials were started in 2011 to explore a "community-based approach aimed at improving the way government plans, funds, and delivers social services. They involve transferring the control of resources including funding, decision-making authority, and accountability for results from government agencies to a Trial lead in the local community."

Family violence in four Flaxmere suicides:

Four teenage girls who committed suicide within 13 months in the Hastings suburb of Flaxmere had all been exposed to family violence, an inquest has found.

In her findings, Coroner Carla na Nagara called for improved facilities for troubled young people and more involvement from government agencies.

Police defend suicide response after strong criticism from coroner:

Police who were strongly criticised by a coroner in her report into the suicides of four teenage girls say they cannot tackle the problem of family violence on their own.

Carla na Nagara released a joint finding on Wednesday into the deaths of Lesha Ruben Ngatuere, Jahnaya Wikitoria Staples, Ebony Rose Karangaroa-McKenzie and Deichan Jarnika Teri Whaanga – all 15, and all from Flaxmere, in Hastings – who took their lives within 13 months of each other, between July 2013 and August 2014.

Solomons hopes to end silence on domestic violence:

The Solomon Islands Ministry of Women, Youth and Children's Affairs says a new set of laws that criminalise domestic violence and increase penalties for sexual offences aim to change attitudes.

A policy coordinator at the ministry, Vaila Ngai, said that domestic and sexual violence were traditionally considered taboo topics to be dealt with by immediate family, not the community.

Kristin Dunne-Powell's police statement detailed a number of violent assaults by Tony Veitch:

The blow that broke Kristin Dunne-Powell's back also eventually outed Tony Veitch as a perpetrator of domestic violence.

Yet it continues to be painted by him as a single moment of madness.

Since 2009, when the broadcaster pleaded guilty to injuring Dunne-Powell, he has sought to minimise his behaviour, making out it was a one-off.

I wish my daughter was not forever connected to Tony Veitch

Carer forced sister to deliver final blow to Moko:

Moko Rangitoheriri's older sister did her best to protect him from the abuse that would kill him. She hid him in closets and gave him water when his killers wouldn't.

But she couldn't save him, and now the eight-year-old wishes she'd died, too.

Anna was only seven, and the adults who killed her three-year-old brother made sure she paid a price every time she helped her brother. On the day Moko died, one of those adults, Tania Shailer, forced Anna to kick a nearly comatose Moko. Shailer told her she'd be beaten if she didn't, so Anna complied.

NZ Herald Family Violence Series

This week the NZ Herald has been running a series of articles putting the spotlight on family violence in New Zealand. The following are a selection of articles from the series. See the NZHerald.co.nz for more.

Family violence: Grim reality for first responders

Special report: former abuser calls on men to take stock

Family violence: Kyle MacDonald: Domestic violence is a male problem

Catriona MacLennan: Eleven years for wife murder? That's not enough

Readers tell their stories

Family violence: When a loved one chooses to stay

A survivor's story: 'Abuse is tiring'

Leaving a violent relationship just the first step

Family violence: Men are victims too

Why does NZ have huge abuse problem?

Call to stop family violence