annotated bibliography of new zealand research into family violence

Abstract: This report provides an evaluation of Government Criminal Justice agenciesresponses to Maori criminal offending, with a focus on prevention. The report identifiesvarious risk factors for Maori offending, with the aim of informing programmes dedicated toreducing Maori crime statistics. Among the main risk factors for Maori offending is familyviolence, which is correlated with criminality. The author makes a number ofrecommendations for reducing Maori offending, and those related to family violence include:improved intersectoral coordination to identify at-risk individuals; programmes targeting thefamily environment to eliminate violence; multi-level interventions that incorporate thefamily; and looking at strengthening families.Douglas, J. (1998). From risk to resilience: Adult survivors of childhood violence talk about theirexperiences. Unpublished master’s thesis, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand.See: www.nzfvc.org.nz/13163.pubTopic Areas: Child abuse and neglect, Children, Victims/survivors, Children as victims,Religion/spirituality, Communities, Social services, Prevention/intervention/treatmentAbstract: This thesis explores the resilience and coping strategies of adults who experiencedabuse as children, but who did not go on to become perpetrators. The research involvedqualitative interviews with 7 women and 1 man. The interviews highlighted the copingmechanisms used by the participants in order to survive the abuse and reject the use ofviolence within their current relationships. The participants identified four external sources ofstrength that helped with developing these coping strategies: their current partner’s support;the support from wider family members; school support and education; and their beliefsystem and church support. These external influences affected the participants’ ownunderstandings and behaviour in a positive way. The author maintains that the findings pointto the need for social work to be inclusive of family and community, and not just focus onindividuals who have experienced domestic violence.Druce, T., Malosi, I., & Moss, J. (1997, July - August). Access issues: New Zealand Law SocietySeminar. Wellington, New Zealand: Butterworths.See: www.nzfvc.org.nz/13220.pubTopic Areas: Intimate partner abuse, Children, Children as witnesses, Justice, Care andcontact, LegislationAbstract: This seminar discusses issues around non-custodial parents’ access to theirchildren under the current law, with particular respect to s16(b) of the Guardianship Act(1968). One of the chapters is dedicated to access issues when violence is found within thehome. This chapter discusses a wide variety of factors that judges take into considerationwhen assigning custody rights, including: the nature and extent of the violence; how recentlythe violence occurred; the frequency of the violence; the likelihood of further violence; theview of the victim’s parent; steps taken by the perpetrator to prevent future violence; and thewishes of the child. The seminar concludes with the authors submitting further questions fordiscussion.Drumm, J. (2000). Domestic violence in Auckland City. Auckland, New Zealand: Domestic ViolenceCentre.See: www.nzfvc.org.nz/13001.pubTopic Areas: Intimate partner abuse, Child abuse and neglect, Physical abuse, Women,52