annotated bibliography of new zealand research into family violence

See: www.nzfvc.org.nz/13263.pubTopic Areas: Intimate partner abuse, Women, Perpetrators/offenders, Victims/survivors,Justice, Protection orders, Legislation, Gender, Policy, Prevention/intervention/treatmentAbstract: This report examines at the operation of the Domestic Violence Act (1995) and, inparticular, current issues related to protection orders. A range of data is utilised in the report,including interviews with domestic violence advocates from around New Zealand; a survey ofmembers of the National Collective of Independent Women’s Refuges; family violencestatistics from courts, the Police and Women’s Refuge; and five case studies of women whohave experienced family violence. The report aims to highlight advocates’ concerns abouthow the Domestic Violence Act is being implemented by a range of agencies 10 years after itwas passed into law.The report considers the objective and aims of the Domestic Violence Act, and uses these toexamine current practice, arguing that some victims of domestic violence have a lack ofconfidence in the justice system. The central points of concern outlined in the report are: thatfewer protection orders are being issued, with more orders than before being put ‘on notice’;the cost of gaining a protection order is prohibitive; there is a minimisation of violence andvictim-blaming within the justice system; delays in gaining protection are putting those whohave experienced violence at risk; fewer perpetrators are being ordered to attend stoppingviolence programmes, and there is a low uptake of programmes for adult and child victims;and there are a lack of consequences for respondents who breach protection orders. The reportpresents these issues for further discussion and calls for a return to the intent of the DomesticViolence Act, along with specialist domestic violence training in the justice sector and morecollaborative approaches to family violence interventions.Harris, L. (1997). Domestic violence and matrimonial property: Does the law meet the property needsof victims of domestic violence. Unpublished manuscript, Victoria University of Wellington,New Zealand.See: www.nzfvc.org.nz/13223.pubTopic Areas: Financial exploitation, Victims/survivors, Justice, Protection orders,LegislationAbstract: This research paper explores the property needs of victims of domestic violence,and the laws which deal with domestic violence and matrimonial property. Its purpose is todetermine whether the law effectively meets the immediate, short-term and long-term needsof domestic violence victims.The Domestic Violence Act (1995) and Matrimonial Property Act (1976) both have thepotential to meet the immediate and short-term needs through occupation and tenancy orders,if the tests are applied with a full understanding of the nature of an abusive relationship. Thelaw, however, fails to meet the long-term property needs of victims. It lacks in the flexibilityto enable the victim to obtain an unequal share of domestic matrimonial property, and fails torecognise the effect of abuse on contributions and the needs that such abuse creates, such as aclean break from the other party. This paper argues that to meet these long-term needs, thelaw needs to be flexible and it needs to be able to consider the needs created by the abuse,without judging the actions that caused the need.Source: Author’s abstractHarris, T. (1999). Malice supplying the want of age: Juvenile homicide in New Zealand: A substantiveand procedural context. Unpublished manuscript, University of Auckland, New Zealand.80