News Archives

New Zealand’s Catholic bishops have been accused of lacking moral leadership as church groups decide whether to waive confidentiality clauses in compensation agreements reached with abuse survivors. Survivor advocates say…

Internal Affairs Minister Tracey Martin has refused to express confidence in the leadership of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care, after it was revealed a convicted child…

The commissioner embroiled in the latest scandal at the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care says he won’t be stepping down. Paul Gibson is responsible for the group…

Warning: This story discusses issues related to rape and sexual violence. Internal Affairs Minister Tracey Martin says she is “horrified” that a child sex offender attended meetings of the inquiry…

Warning: This story discusses issues related to rape and sexual violence. A member of a survivors’ group advising the Government’s abuse in care inquiry has skipped its latest meeting after…

The Network for Survivors of Abuse in Faith-based Institutions has published a guide for survivors who want to report to the Royal Commission. Download a copy of the guide (DOC…

A report evaluating the pilot of New Zealand’s first Sexual Violence Court says pilot cases are proceeding to jury trial about a third faster on average than previously. The evaluation…

Pedophile cardinal George Pell has lodged a special leave application with the High Court to try to challenge his convictions for sexually abusing choirboys. The 78-year-old pedophile remained behind bars…

Tears have taken up residence behind Grant West’s bright blue eyes. He is 57 years old, a burly Kiwi living in Australia with bleach-tipped hair and a crumpled leather jacket….

The government has announced it is boosting the funding of more than 20 existing underfunded mental health services. It is also allocating $30 million for the creation of new front-line…

The Catholic Church has accepted legal responsibility for the sexual abuse of a nine-year-old boy by notorious paedophile Gerald Ridsdale in a significant case which could open the floodgates for…

Research funded jointly by social service providers and philanthropic organisations. Published from Women’s Health, Volume 15: 1–17, 2019. Download the article (PDF)

The government is underfunding social service providers delivering services that are essential to the wellbeing of New Zealand children, families, whānau and communities by an estimated $630 million a year,…

Prestige lecture: Prof. Tess Patterson By Prof Ian Rothmann 26 August 2019

Warning: This story deals with the topic of suicide. Health authorities are being urged to target a growing number of young men dying by suicide. Figures released on Monday show…

Warning: This story deals with the topic of suicide. The number of suicides in New Zealand has reached its highest-ever level, with 685 people dying in the year to June…

The Labor senator Kristina Keneally has blasted Melbourne’s Catholic archbishop for his response to Cardinal George Pell losing his appeal against child sexual abuse convictions. Keneally, herself a prominent Catholic,…

On Wednesday, Cardinal George Pell lost his appeal to overturn a conviction of child sexual assault. Chief Justice Anne Ferguson, Justice Chris Maxwell and Justice Mark Weinberg of the Victorian…

In response to concerns expressed within our survivor community, and to foster a more informed understanding of male circumcision as it presents in our contemporary society, MSA commissioned the attached…

There’s hope the government’s Criminal Justice Summit will be more than just talk. The two-day conference kicked off last night, and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern called on all those present…

A study examining the importance of preserving the values and ethos of user-led peer support and self-help in the context of new policies to professionalise peer support. There is a…

The first Procedural hearing of the Abuse in Care Inquiry is on Monday, 19 August at 10am at Rydges Hotel, Federal Street in Auckland. Published in Abuse in State Care…

Boys’ experience of abuse may be construed as consensual or desired. They often aren’t even thought of as potential victims. This has to change Published in The Independent

A 52-year-old man charged with the rape of young girls and making recordings now faces seven additional charges as a police investigation continues. Equestrian Andrew Alan Williams was arrested in…