We're doing more to tackle family violence

Today I made some important announcements around what further steps the National-led Government is taking to tackle family violence.

Despite crime rates in New Zealand falling to a 35-year low, family violence remains unacceptably high. In fact, the level of family violence in New Zealand is appalling.

Last year alone, more than 100,000 incidents were reported to Police – that’s around one every five minutes. What’s more, nearly half of all homicides and reported violent crimes are family violence-related.

Today I launched a review into New Zealand’s family violence legislation, which adds to the comprehensive work programme we already have underway to combat family and sexual violence.

This includes establishing a national home safety service, speeding up court cases, and improving judges’ access to information in family violence cases.

The legislation review is one of the many ways we’re striving to get victims the help they need, hold perpetrators to account, and stop family violence from happening in the first place. I think the law can do more to reduce the incidence and impact of family violence.

This Government is committed to better addressing the high rate of family violence.

While we are dealing with an immensely complex issue, we can and we will do more.

You can have your say on the legislation review at consultations.justice.govt.nz. Submissions close on 18 September 2015.

Kind regards,

Hon Amy Adams
Minister of Justice

ENDS

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