November 2019

November 2019 · November 24, 2019

Leanne & Flynn

For half of Leanne Fletcher’s life, she has been dealing with an abusive partner. At 32, she is a successful speech language therapist working in Nelson and living in Tapawera. She’s also about to move with her new husband to the UK to start a new chapter in her life, even though she is still healing from the abuse she suffered all those years ago. “I was with Jason from the time I was 16 until I was 21. We both left home early, me at 16 to follow him to Christchurch after he got kicked...

23 Weeks

The beginning of one man’s journey It’s August 2019 and Carl is really upset. “I just found out my sister’s husband has been abusing her, badly. Physical. They’re splitting up. I didn’t know just how bad it was all this time. I mean, they have teenagers. I want so bad to go down there, to Dunedin, put him in my boot, and take him for a long drive.” Carl* is 40 and has a history of violent verbal behaviour. His problem is that he gets angry really fast and lashes out verbally....

We need to pay attention to those who commit violence too

For White Ribbon November, let’s put the focus on men. SVS Living Safe is calling for people to pay more attention to male perpetrators of violence during this month’s White Ribbon campaign because unless we do, New Zealand’s serious family violence problem won’t get better. SVS Living Safe is an accredited provider of professional support services in the area of family violence. The White Ribbon campaign, which asks men to take ownership of this issue and model good behaviour, is in...