Comments on Every 4 minutes: A discussion paper on
preventing family violence in New Zealand by Ian Lambie (Office of the
Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor, 6 Nov 2018)...
This report claims that Maori experienced little violence
before colonisation, but are now highly exposed to violence and should be given
culturally appropriate solutions. It has
been widely reported, as in a Herald article, New Zealand lacks comprehensive strategy to counter family violence – new
report:
“Colonisation had had a traumatic affect on Maori, and
culturally-appropriate solutions – informed by science – were needed for Maori
and Pacific communities. Despite the
well-reported relative absence of whanau violence before colonisation, Maori
are now highly exposed to it. The trauma
of colonisation has had an inter-generational effect on Maori, who experience
disproportionate rates of family violence, combined with other negative social
effects of racism, discrimination and dislocation, alongside strengths and
resilience factors that endure.”
