Domestic Violence in New Zealand: Social Work Analysis and Solutions

This social work report examines the pervasive issue of domestic violence within the Iwi and Whanau communities of New Zealand. It explores the historical context, including the impact of urbanization and gender inequality on Maori women, and analyzes the current state of intimate partner violence (IPV) within these communities. The report highlights the challenges faced by women, including sexual violence and discrimination, and discusses the efforts of Women Welfare Committees and government initiatives aimed at curbing domestic violence. Statistics reveal a significantly higher rate of domestic violence among Maori women compared to New Zealand European women. The report concludes with recommendations for increased government intervention, community support, and public awareness campaigns to address this critical social issue and protect the well-being of Maori women and their families.

Running head: SOCIAL WORK
Social Work
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Introduction
The factor of domestic violence has been one of the most crucial issues among women in
New Zealand. It has been a big factor in both iwi and whanau communities in New Zealand. The
violence among women has been rising all the more. Therefore, it has been a matter of concern
among all the people in the country. In the last few decades, New Zealand has been trying to get
rid of this issue but it has not been working properly. Public education campaigns have been
organized in the country so this issue could be curbed.
Thesis statement: Domestic violence in New Zealand among Iwi and Whanau communities
has been a barrier to growth of the country and overall society.
Explanation on domestic violence among iwi communities
Generally domestic violence suggests tremendous torture on women by their male
partners within their houses (Chappell & Curtin, 2013). However, it has focused about family
structure in those tribal communities and how children and women go through mental
harassments. Historical impacts of this issue domestic violence are many. It has been suggested
that Maori people especially Iwi and Whanau communities began to move to cities to earn their
livelihoods during the beginning of 1930s. However, during the times of Second World War, it
was obvious that Maori women had to move to cities and urban migration began to increase in
this way (Morgan & Mattson, 2018). Maori women began to seek jobs which were previously
dominated by males. Then women were largely discriminated and they faced issues regarding
their health, education of their children and hosing facilities. These women were harassed in their
workplaces as well (Wilson, Jackson & Herd, 2016). Gender inequality has been one of the
biggest reasons behind this. The current legislations are trying to prevent this sort of violence

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among women. The legislations regarding criminal justice system have been updated recently to
punish these offenders. Despite so many attempts to stop these harassments, women in Iwi and
Whanau communities face many hazards when dealing with their male partners in the society.
Sexual violence has been one of the biggest examples of domestic violence in this regard. Things
like distressful sexual touching, forced sexual intercourse, attempted forced sexual intercourse
and other things have been reported that are subjects to be concerned with.
The indigenous people in the country are tortured and harassed. This is why people have
sought the help of administration to curb down this issue. Historically, intimate partner violence
(IPV) has been one of the biggest problems for the overall growth of the country. The society is
not progressing because of the presence of these problems (Simon‐Kumar et al., 2017). In the
context of society of New Zealand, Maori communities such as iwi and whanau people are
represented as the biggest victims of this intimate partner violence. The crime surveys in New
Zealand suggest that Iwi and Whanau communities have not been courageous enough to report
these problems to the police. Theerefore, the rates have been increasing internally without the
interference of police or crime departments in the country.
Amidst these discriminations, protests began to grow and the need for establishing a
national organization for women of Iwi communities. These social issues would have to curbed
and needs of those Maori women had to be met (Morgan & Mattson, 2018). Some Women
Welfare Committees had been set up and the need for getting help went on to grow. The readings
for this paper have undergone a thorough research to discover how Women Welfare Committees
began to solve the issues. Both Iwi and Whanau communities of Maori tribes had been largely
benefitted (Morrison & Davenne, 2016). The number of Women Welfare Committees began to
expand and it stretched across many district councils of the country.

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Therefore, this scenario needs to be dealt with very strictly to save those women of iwi
community. The authors have also suggested that a sense of confidence should be raised among
women so they can protest strongly. This issue cannot be resolved without their strong
contribution. As per historical records, it has been suggested that around 26.9% of Maori women
in New Zealand belonging to Iwi and Whanau communities have been subjected to be victimized
in the society in terms of domestic violence. This rate is much higher than 14.6% of those New
Zealqand European women (Morrison & Davenne, 2016). As per statistics is concerned, only
around 15% of people in New Zealand belong to Maori communities such as Iwi and Whanau
communities. In this context, more than 50% of those people (mainly female) had been subjected
to violent approach from their male counterparts (Morrison & Davenne, 2016). The
psychological attributions related with the Maori tribes are an example of the growth of the
domestic violence among the people and had a negative impact on the community (Wilson,
Jackson & Herd, 2016).
The department of Maori affairs had managed to develop the Social and Economic
Advance Act of 1945 that can be considered as one of the important aspects for the irradiation of
domestic violence (Morrison & Davenne, 2016). The appointment of several welfare officers
have managed to identify the offenders that can be associated with the development of the health
issues in the country. In this regard, it can be said that the Maori welfare department of the
country considers acts of domestic violence within the country and on individuals (Simon‐Kumar
et al., 2017).
The responses of family and domestic violence can be taken into account by
understanding the resources and research undertaken by the Government. The analysis of the
article provides evidence that in 2014, the New Zealand police commenced more than 100,000

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family domestic abuses. Among the Maori communities it is seen that domestic violence is one
of the most common assault and that disruption of peace in a community along with the women
folks are taken into consideration by the Government. The greater focus on family and domestic
violence has resulted in the development of task forces to mitigate the social evil.
In New Zealand, the violence against women based on intimate relationships is seen as
one of the greatest social evil in the modern world. It has been seen that within 1950, about 150
Women Welfare Communities had been set up in New Zealand. It has been seen that some of the
Maori community people had managed to be united in trying to prevent the growth of domestic
violence in the community (Morgan & Mattson, 2018). As such, it can be said that
encouragement from the Government plays an important role for the development of the Maori
community and for setting up the Women Welfare Communities in the country.
Hence, it can be said that an examination can be made about the violence that exists in
the case of heterosexual people in the light of the bill passed on the LGBT concept. The article
analyses the relationship that exists between people of such communities so that an idea can be
gained about the scenario of the overall domestic violence that exists in the country and the
manner in which it can be mitigated (Morrison & Davenne, 2016). Furthermore, conclusion can
be made about the fact that domestic violence can be attributed as a type of child abuse. As a part
of this crisis situation, it can be exclaimed that this should be solved at any cost. Otherwise, it
would be very difficult for future generations to cope up with this distressful situation. As it has
been reported that domestic violence among women is the highest in New Zealand, some major
steps should be taken like active interference of police, arranging campaigns by Government in
Maori regions to make them understand the problem of this practice. Then only this problem can
be resolved.

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Conclusion
Hence, after the analysis of the articles, conclusion can be made about the manner in
which the Maori community has evolved over the years. The development of a contemporary
New Zealand has resulted in the disruption of the Maori community and has led to the rise of
domestic violence in the country. These acts of violence have multiplied with the passage of time
and it is necessary that the Government of New Zealand take necessary steps for mitigating the
threat of domestic violence. The articles help in identifying the cause of the violence and the
necessary steps required for mitigating its practices.

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Reference List
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