To: Domestic Violence Centre, Auckland.
4 August 2000
To whom it may concern,
Last night I listened to an item broadcast on the National Program that featured
a representative from the Domestic Violence Centre in Auckland, along with a
representative of Men Stopping Violence Program. The subject of the broadcast
was Domestic Violence, in particular the recent high profile cases of violence
(one fatal) suffered by children.
At approx. 2015, I turned off the radio in disgust when it was stated that
Domestic Violence was not merely a male Maori problem, but a problem that must
be addressed by ALL MALES! When will it ever be recognized that females also
commit acts of violence and in equal proportions to males? The only reason that
the statistics show an overwhelmingly male bias in matters of domestic violence
is because the statistics are flawed, as the Police will not take male complaints
of female violence seriously and the Department for Courts will not find a female
guilty of assault on a male. How can a female be convicted of a violent act
if the Police will not follow a complaint, and then if a charge is laid, a biased
Court dismisses the charge?
As a male victim of Domestic Violence the legal system and aid
organizations are more interested in harassing me than dealing with female-initiated
violence and ignore the problem of female initiated violence. I have been imprisoned
twice based on unsubstantiated allegations, yet when a male makes a complaint
of violence by a female he is ignored by the Police and the Department for Courts.
I was also forced to attend an Anger Management Program under threat of imprisonment
whilst my wifes continuing anger management and gambling problems went
unaddressed and unacknowledged, as they still do to this day, the NZ Government
and others ignoring the issues and not listening to my concerns, or indeed the
concerns of any male in respect of such matters.
The recent highly publicized acts of child abuse and domestic violence were
committed by females, yet this only presented the NZ Government, the media,
womens refuges, and other biased organizations such as Domestic Violence
Centre, with opportunities to further distort reality, and further denigration
and abuse of males
It is time that recognition be given to the fact that domestic violence is
not merely a male problem and a crime that is wholly committed by males. It
is time for the NZ Government and organizations such as yours to enter the real
world and recognize the problem of domestic violence for what it is and effectively
deal with it in an unbiased and objective manner.
Women also commit acts of domestic violence. All males in NZ are a target
and subject to discrimination and other Human Rights abuses - guilty by virtue
of gender. It is time these practices ceased. It is time the NZ Government and
organizations such as Domestic Violence Centre adhere to the Human Rights Act,
which makes gender discrimination an offence.