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Thousands Join March to Change NZ's Shame

Women's Refuge is calling on New Zealanders to consider which party is committed to doing more to eliminate domestic and family violence post next weekend's general election.

"Violence against women and children is a profound social problem in New Zealand," says Heather Henare, Women's Refuge Chief Executive.

"Beyond the enormous and often life long personal costs of violence, the cost to the economy is also significant".

"When you consider how much it costs to respond to domestic and family violence in terms of police time (over 260 police attendances every single day), the criminal justice response, hospital admissions and days off school and work, it makes absolute sense to consider how any future Government is going to address the problem."

Women's Refuge knows the Government can get smarter and more effective in our response to domestic violence and child abuse.

"That's why we are organising a march on Parliament. We have been thinking of ways to allow every day New Zealanders to tell the Government that the current rates of domestic violence are unacceptable," says Ms Henare.

At 12pm on 15 September 2015, thousands of people are walking through the streets of Wellington to the steps of Parliament. Here we will present a 2 metre tall statue of Kate Shepard made up of the signatures of thousands of New Zealanders who have made a stand against domestic violence. Their signatures have been etched on to 351 sheets of acrylic, taking a team of 20 over 350 hours to construct.

"Kate Shepard was a trailblazer for women's rights in the 1890's and we are bringing her back to symbolise the ongoing fight for women and children to live free from violence. We are gifting her to Parliament to remind our representatives that domestic and family violence must remain a priority." Ms Henare said.

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