NZFVC Quick Reads: 22 August 2024

NZFVC Quick Reads: 22 August 2024

Welcome to our Quick Reads format. Each week we share selected news bites relevant to family violence and sexual violence in Aotearoa. See all past NZFVC Quick reads.

Revised legislation on surrogacy open for submission

The Health Committee is seeking feedback on their recently released report, Improving Arrangements for Surrogacy Bill: Third interim report (2024). The report includes the redrafted bill, after extensive changes as a result of the Law Commission’s 2022 report, Te Kōpū Whāngai: He Arotake, Review of Surrogacy. The report also includes 15 questions that the Committee is seeking feedback on. Submissions are due 18 September 2024 and can be made at Improving Arrangements for Surrogacy Bill. For further information, see our news story  coverage of the 2022 call for submissions.

Consultation on vocational education and training reform

The Government is calling for feedback on the proposed vocational education reforms intended to replace Te Pūkenga. The details of the proposed changes can be found in Redesign of the vocational education and training system: proposals for public consultation. Of note is option B of Proposal 2 which calls for the disestablishment of Workforce Development Councils (WDC) and their potential replacement by a smaller number of more focused, industry-specific standard-setting bodies. This could mean the disestablishment of Toitū te Waiora, the WDC responsible for improving the community, health, education, and social services workforces. The Tertiary Education Commission and the Ministry of Education are holding a series of in-person meetings and webinars to discuss the proposals. Submissions close 12 September 2024 and can be made online and by email, more details can be found online.

New report on victim blaming from Manaaki Tāngata | Victim support

Manaaki Tāngata | Victim Support has released Experiences of Victim Blaming and its Impact on Help-Seeking, Crime Reporting and Recovery: Key findings report (2024). Researchers interviewed 31 victims of crime, including victims of sexual violence, family violence, assault, theft, fraud, and several other offences. See Victim Support’s media release for information on the study. This research forms part of Victim Support campaign, Change the Script: End victim blaming.

Mana Mokopuna published a child-friendly resource on the Rights of the Child

Mana Mokopuna Children and Young People’s Commission have published, Doing what’s right for mokopuna: recommendations from the United Nations to improve mokopuna rights in Aotearoa New Zealand (2024). This child-friendly resource sets out rights under the Children's Convention and explains the UN Committee's Concluding Observations on Aotearoa. This resource was developed alongside a diverse range of children and young people and is available in English and te reo Māori.

Community Research’s Te Tiriti 2024 and Beyond podcasts

Community Research has produced a 6 episode podcast series, Te Tiriti 2024 and Beyond. The podcast is hosted by Kaye-Maree Dunn and features discussion with tangata whenua and tangata Tiriti on He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni and Te Tiriti o Waitangi. The series guests include Professor Makere (Margaret) Mutu and Dr Luke Fitzmaurice-Brown, among others.