We're Better Than This

New Zealand has the worst rate of family and intimate-partner violence in the world. Eighty per cent of incidents go unreported — so what we know of family violence in our community is barely the tip of the iceberg.

At it’s most serious level, the significant problem is violence against women and children. However men are victims too and must not be forgotten.  If you are being abused, remember it's not your fault. Violence is never okay.

On Saturday NZME launched We’re Better Than This, a series on family violence.

Our aim is to raise awareness, to educate, to give an insight into the victims and perpetrators. We want to encourage victims to have the strength to speak out, and abusers the courage to change their behaviour.

We’d like to thank the following people for sharing our message and using their voice and influence to help change the way New Zealanders think about family violence.

In order of appearance:
-Judy Bailey, broadcaster and Women’s Refuge ambassador
-Ryan Hoffman, captain of the New Zealand Warriors
-Stacey Morrison, television personality and The Hits co-host
-Sela Alo, Flava FM Breakfast co-host
-Toni Street, Seven Sharp and The Hits co-host
-Commissioner Mike Bush, NZ Police
-Erin Simpson, television personality
-Michael Boggs, chief executive officer NZME, publisher of the Herald
-Joseph Parker, champion boxer
-Pua Magasiva, Flava FM Breakfast co-host and Shortland Street actor
-Mai Chen, managing partner Chen Palmer Public and Employment Law Specialists
-Police Minister Judith Collins

#betterthanthis

CREDITS:
Concept by Anna Leask and Chris Marriner
Script by Anna Leask
Filmed by Mark Mitchell, Dean Purcell, Michael Craig, Brett Phibbs, Nick Reed, Doug Sherring, the Labour Party, Duco Events
Produced by Ash Boyd

How to get help:

If you're in danger NOW:

• Phone the police on 111 or ask neighbours of friends to ring for you
• Run outside and head for where there are other people
• Scream for help so that your neighbours can hear you
• Take the children with you
• Don't stop to get anything else
• If you are being abused, remember it's not your fault. Violence is never okay

Where to go for help or more information:

• Women's Refuge: Free national crisisline operates 24/7 - 0800 REFUGE or 0800 733 843 www.womensrefuge.org.nz
• Shine, free national helpline 9am- 11pm every day - 0508 744 633 www.2shine.org.nz
• It's Not Ok: Information line 0800 456 450 www.areyouok.org.nz
• Shakti: Providing specialist cultural services for African, Asian and Middle Eastern women and their children. Crisisline 24/7 0800 742 584
• Ministry of Justice: www.justice.govt.nz/family-justice/domestic-violence
• National Network of Stopping Violence: www.nnsvs.org.nz
• White Ribbon: Aiming to eliminate men's violence towards women, focusing this year on sexual violence and the issue of consent. www.whiteribbon.org.nz

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