Peter Boshier discusses family violence on TVNZ Q+A

Peter Boshier, former Principal Family Court Judge and now Chair of the White Ribbon Campaign, recently appeared on the TVNZ Q+A programme discussing his ideas for addressing family violence in New Zealand. These were:

1. Attitudinal change

2. Presenting other options for women in violent relationships. Boshier said "We've got to enable them to feel there is something they can do and somewhere they can go".

3. Men's accountability: encouraging men to talk and acknowledge violence and make change.

He reminded people that family violence is not just physical but insidious psychological violence including threatening text messages, voicemails and emails.

Boshier also advocated for the establishment of a specific domestic violence offence, making the offence (and possible previous offences) distinguishable from general offences such as 'male assaults female'. Boshier also identified the need for accomodation for men who have been violent rather than women and children needing to leave their homes, and safe places for both women and men to talk about violence outside of state agencies.