"A Summer to Remember, not a Summer to Forget"

This is the tag-line for our summer youth alcohol campaign (that I wrote about in November). This is a multi-media social marketing campaign with several 'partners' involved. The key messages are: "the majority of alcohol supplied to 14-17year olds is provided by parents or other adults(79%)"; and "Adults believe that if they provide the alcohol teenage drinking won't get out of hand. The reality is IT DOES! So what is your action plan? http://www.teentools.co.nz/ "

One group engaged in the campaign is the Tauranga and Western Bay of Plenty Off-Licence Alcohol Accord (OLAA). This is the first and only alcohol accord in the country for off-licence retailers. Almost all of the alcohol retailers in the Western Bay are members, including the supermarkets, liquor chains, corner stores and wine shops.

OLAA representatives participated in a focus group for the "Summer to Remember" campaign, and contributed to the design and content of the resources. We have now distributed counter mats for the liquor stores, and a flyer that contains information concerning the risks and responsibilities of supplying alcohol to under 18s. In total, 350 counter mats and 10,000 flyers were distributed to OLAA members. The supermarkets can't use the countermats, but instead offered to distribute flyers with every till receipt when alcohol is purchased. We have printed a further 30,000 flyers for Countdown, New World Mt Maunganui, and Pak'n'Save. It's so cool going into these stores and seeing the resources being displayed and used so positively by the retailers.

The second element in the campaign targets young people. We produced 2,000 'coloured zincs' as giveaways over the summer: by the Summer Ambassadors (employed by the Tauranga City Council), and 'The Edge' Roadrunners (radio station). We placed an advert in the Summer Activity Passport. The posters are on the backs of three buses for the summer period.

The third component is the 'brief interventions' with the Tauranga Hospital Emergency Department where youg people who present for treatment where alcohol is a contributing factor will be referred for followup within 48 hours by a trained counsellor. The counsellors will be managed by a local community-based Drug and Alcohol service provider. We are finalising the protocols and procedures for this. Evidence indicates this is a highly effective method for 'sheeting home' the realities of the risks and harms associated with out-of-control teenage drinking.

Kelly Barriball is our account manager at V Marketing (an agency in Tauranga that does the concept and design work for a lot of our projects). Kelly and I attended a hui in Wellington with ALAC (Alcohol Advisory Council) on Monday and Tuesday that was convened for the recipients of funding from their Community Alcohol Action Fund. It was a privilege to meet so many dedicated people from the length and breadth of NZ working in their communities to reduce alcohol-related harm. We were able to share some of the initiatives we are working on in Tauranga.

The issues facing parents concerning the provision of alcohol for under 18s are many - and most parents want to do the right thing for their teens. Tauranga Safe City has a websited dedicated for parents and the bewildering array of challenges they confront with their teens. For more information about this campaign, or any other matter visit http://www.teentools.co.nz/

In praise of 'do-gooding'

The Weekend Sun is a free community newspaper and on-line news service (www.sunlive.co.nz) that publishes a weekly column by City Councillor Bill Faulkner. Bill uses the column to give his slant on Council activities, and vent his feelings about various issues.

Last weekend he wrote this: "We also adopted social infrastructure planning guidelines on the basis that it's what council already does and I supported it on this basis. Staff assured us that it was not an open chequebook for any future socialist minded council to open the floodgates for 'do-gooding'. Many of us thought that it reeked of community ratepayers action pay up".

I am a proud and self-confessed 'do-gooder', and my role as Tauranga Safe City Coordinator brings me daily into contact with many other 'do-gooders' who work tirelessly and unselfishly to make Tauranga a safer, healthier and more liveable place. I am really interested to know what other people think about these comments. Personally I find Cr Faulkner's comments comtemptuous, dismissive and offensive. Let's examine why.

The Local Government Act 2002 provides a clear purpose for local government (Part 2, section10). This purpose recognises that local authorities are able to provide community governance at the local level and make a significant contribution to social, economic, environmental and cultural well-being.

Furthermore, the Act requires local authorities to facilitate a process with their communities, to identify community outcomes for the intermediate and long term future of the district or region. Identifying community outcomes is designed to promote better co-ordination and application of community resources, and inform and guide priorities for activities udertaken by local authorities and other organisations. The local authorities' role is to facilitate the contribution of other local authorities, government agencies, local organisations and the business sector make to the outcomes and priorities identified by the community. The Act requires Councils to prepare 10-year Long Term Council Community Plans that are reviewed every three years. The LTCCP's show the Community Outcomes and priorities, and what activities the Council will undertake to achieve them.

In other words, Council has an important role to play in ensuring the social needs of the community are being met - which can include coordination and planning for social infrastructure, and by directly investing in programmes and services that contribute to positive social outcomes. This is not the domain of 'socialist minded' councils, but the responsibility of every local authority. Tauranga City Council is alone as a local authority with a population of over 100,000 because it has no community development personnel. Consequently, its ability to facilitate, coordinate and mobilise government, local government and community resources is severely limited.

Tauranga Safe City is a successful multi-agency partnership that has a focus on crime prevention, injury prevention and community safety. As a collaborative project, it contributes significantly to the Council's ability to meet its obligations under the Local Government Act (social wellbeing and community outcomes). Tauranga City Council contributes no funding to Tauranga Safe City, but provides 'in-kind' management and financial support from within existing staff resources.

The discussion concerning social infrastructure planning guidelines has exposed a 'blind-spot' within Tauranga City Council. The needs of a growing population and changing demographic require a proactive approach to community planning. This is not about 'opening the floodgates' but rather, about taking a proactive leadership role in achieving positive community outcomes. It is about investment in social wellbeing. The people of Tauranga need to decide if they want more from their Council; and the people who commit their time and energy , much of it voluntary, to improving the quality of life of the community deserve better.

Night of drunken mayhem on Strand

The headline on Monday's BOP Times suggests the Strand is a war-zone. In fact, there were 13 arrests between 1.50am and 3.40am, mainly for disorderly behaviour, fighting and breaches of the liquor ban. Local Police say the situation is not worsening, but remains an on-going issue.

Meanwhile behind the scenes, the Police, Council and licensees are working on the Strand Night Management Plan to achieve consensus on how to best address these matters. Various proposals have been introduced including the 24/7 liquor ban areas; improving the lighting; CCTV; fencing-off outdoor licensed areas; closing the reclamation car park from 10.30pm; and now a year-long trial creating a clearly defined pedestrian footpath along the length of the Strand.

The Strand redevelopment created wide paved areas with large sun shades for alfresco dining and entertaining. For the vast majority of patrons, the Strand provides a very pleasant cafe-style day-time and evening venue, and if numbers are anything to go by, there is a thriving 'night-life' despite the alarmist headlines. The issue has always been after midnight when these outdoor areas become vertical drinking spaces, and there is opportunity for confrontation between patrons and passers-by. This coupled with the increasingly frequent behaviour of pre-loading (ie drinking to the point of intoxication then coming into the CBD) means that by closing time at 3.00am, there are intoxicated people dispersing through the immediate environment, looking for taxis, looking for food, and in some cases looking for trouble.

For the Council and Police the issues are complicated: how do you mitigate the undersirable behaviour while not infringing on the rights of the public to enjoy a night out, and the licensees to operate their businesses. Already some licensees are complaining that the proposed walkway may force some premises to close. I find this argument hard to accept. It is not acceptable to allow/perpetuate unsafe drinking environments solely on the basis of profitability. Licensees have complained about the uncontrolled pedestrian traffic that passes 'through' their establishments, but requested that the proposed footpath be re-routed around the road edge. This would necessitate the removal of concrete outdoor furniture (est $150,000) and the placing of pedestrians in proximity to the road. The Council instead chose to place the walkway more directly through the centre.

There is no simple solution to the business of late night drinking and its associated harms. The issues being experienced with the Strand are challenging local authorities and Police in a number of centres throughout New Zealand. While the debate about the management of alcohol in our society reverberates through the Law Commission Review, at a local level we need to keep the doors of communication open to all parties: Police, Council, licensees, and the general public over how we manage alcohol in our city.

Police reward motor vehicle compliance

Tauranga, like many communities in New Zealand has its problems with illegal street racing, sustained loss of traction, noisy car stereo systems, and other driving behaviours that are bundled together and labelled "boy racers".

In 2007 the Tauranga City Council enacted a bylaw that prohibited all motor vehicles under 3500kgs from entering a schedule of streets in the city's industrial estates between the hours of 9.00pm and 5.00am.

The bylaw was aimed at not just addressing illegal driving behaviours, but also the associated crime activity including vandalism and graffiti, broken glass, and burglary. The bylaw has been successful in eliminating these activities in the designated areas. There has been a degree of displacement into other locations, but the large gatherings of cars and spectators has largely been dispersed.

The Tauranga Police have recently conducted a series of 'checkpoints' to monitor compliance with motor vehicle regulations. Aimed at illegal modifications, such as over-sized exhausts, modification or removal of suspension components, and other potentially dangerous structural and mechanical alterations, the Police report that they were both surprised and pleased with the overall level of compliance.

I applaud the initiative of the Police with their handling of these checkpoints. Senior Sergeant Ian Campion, Officer in Charge Road Policing, tells me that while compliance policing has always been firm, the only incentive for getting your vehicle up to standard was that drivers didn't get a ticket. Ian was looking for a positively reinforcement to reward in some small way those young people who had got it right. Furthermore Ian saw it as an opportunity for enhancing the relationship between the Police with that 'fraternity' that would result in improved compliance.

He approached the sub-regional Joint Road Safety Committee for some funding, and then negotiated a sponsorship deal with John Warder, the owner of the McDonalds franchises in Tauranga, to give food vouchers to the drivers of compliant motor vehicles. These are a tangible reward that can be redeemed at any time of the day or night and are an excellent example of how businesses can support road safety.

This is proactive road policing at its very best and in glaring contradiction to the "round them up and crush them" mentality that seems so prevalent.

Changes to ACC

For many years, New Zealand has had a 'no-fault' personal injury insurance scheme that has been the envy of the rest of the world. Funded by levys on things such as income and vehicle registration, it has compensated everything from broken bones and sore backs to the families of suicides, and victims of sexual assault. It is a cornerstone for funding private accident and emergency clinics, physiotherapy practices and a host of other rehabilitation and counselling services.

In recent years, ACC has actively funded Injury Prevention programmes, including the Safe Communities project that employs me. Most branches have Injury Prevention Advisors, who work alongside agencies engaged in road safety, workplace safety, alcohol-related harm, and falls prevention.

ACC (accident compensation commission) is a business arm of government, and run by a politically appointed Board. The new National Government has signalled that the huge financial deficits sustained by ACC must be curtailed, and the move is towards an insurance model: where the responsibility falls on the victim ie the higher the 'risk' of a claim, the greater the premium. For example this will see ACC levys on big motorcycles increase substantially, despite the fact that motorcyclists will argue that it is motor cars and other vehicles that cause most of their accidents.

While the big increases in premiums are being debated in the media, there has also been significant changes in the funding for injury prevention. We have been advised that ACC will cease funding for Tauranga Safe City from 30 June 2010. Funding for counselling for victims of sexual assault has been made much harder to receive. But one change in particular really raises my ire.

Falls for older people are life-changing events - they can lead to permanent disability, loss of confidence and are the largest cause of non-medical deaths. ACC funds three programmes to help prevent/reduce falls: The Otago Exercise Programme (OEP); modified Tai Chi; and Vitamin D for all rest home residents. Quietly and below the radar, ACC are now progressively axing OEP, and reducing entitlement to Tai Chi. The Vitamin D supplement remains untouched as it is very cheap and gives a good "return on investment."

The Otago Exercise Programme (OEP) is an individually tailored exercise programme for people 80 years or older (65 years for Maori) who meet the criteria, that is delivered in your home by a trained nurse or physiotherapist. It has been shown to reduce falls by 35% (ACC's website). It will be completely gone by December 2010.

Modified Tai Chi classes are for people over 65 years old who have had a fall, or are assessed as being at risk of falling. Classes are taught each week in a group setting. Initial research shows that Tai Chi reduces falls by 47%. Entitlement (frequency and duration of the programme) will be significantly reduced under the new ACC regime. In the picture, a group are demonstrating their Tai Chi in downtown Tauranga at the Tauranga Safe City 'launch' in 2006.

Both of these programmes are proven to be very effective. They address critical issues of strength, and mobility, flexibility and balance. In the case of Tai Chi, they are hugely beneficial in a social context. A cynical assessment would suggest that the decision to withdraw and reduce these falls prevention services reflects the diminishing value of older people in the community, and effectively transfers the responsibility and costs to the health sector. It is outrageous that these internationally recognised therapies are being terminated or reduced.

Press Release: Family Violence statistics

I have just received the most recent publication of family violence stats for New Zealand. They make scary reading, especially when you realise that less than 20% of family violence and intimate partner violence is ever reported.

Consequently this is one set of statistics that I will be expecting to see rise, and rise, for several more years to come as we lift the lid and remove the barriers to confronting this insidious and destructive behaviour.

Nearly half of all homicides in New Zealand are family violence.

There were 44 family violence homicides in New Zealand in 2008 (includes murder,
manslaughter and attempted murder).

On average 14 women, 6 men and 10 children are killed by a member of their family
every year.

Police recorded 86,545 family violence incidents and offences in 2008.

Police are called to around 200 family violence situations a day - one every 7 minutes.

Police estimate only 18% of family violence incidents are reported.

Half of all violent crime in New Zealand is family violence. In 2008 this was:
• 42% of kidnappings and abductions
• 44% of grievous assaults
• 64% of serious assaults.

At least 74,785 children and young people aged under 17 were present at family
violence situations attended by Police.

84% of those arrested for family violence are men; 16% are women.

About 10 children are killed every year in New Zealand by a member(s) of their family.

Child Youth and Family received 49,063 reports of abuse that required further action in 2006.

Around 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 10 boys in New Zealand have experienced sexual abuse.

1 in 3 women experience physical or sexual violence from a partner in their lifetime
(WHO study in Auckland and Waikato).

14% of men report being assaulted by a partner in their lifetime (NZ Crime and Safety
Survey 2006).

Women’s Refuge received around 50,000 crisis calls in 2007/08, and provided services
to 11,295 women and 6,996 children.

85% of sexual violence is committed by someone known to the victim.

523 women and 53 men were admitted to hospital in 2006 due to assault or abuse by
their partner.

239 children under 15 were admitted to hospital in 2006 due to assault, abuse or
neglect.

156 people over 65 years old were admitted to hospital in 2006 due to assault, abuse
or neglect.

Half of all children killed by caregivers are Maori.

Seven times more young Maori women and four times more Maori children are
hospitalised from an assault compared to Pakeha women and children.

49% of Maori women experienced partner abuse at some time in their life, compared
with 24% of Pakeha and 23% of Pacifica women.

There were 4,511 applications for protection orders in 2007.

Each day the Courts deal with around 21 prosecutions of assault on women by men.

There were 863 prosecutions for assault on a child and a further 96 prosecutions for
cruelty to children in 2008.

The economic cost of family violence was estimated at $1.2 to $5.8 billion per year by
economist Suzanne Snively in 1994. In today’s figures that would rise to $8 billion.

Sources:
• New Zealand Family Violence Clearinghouse fact sheets www.nzfvc.org.nz
• Kruger, T., Pitman, M., Grennell, D., McDonald, T., Mariu, D.,Pomare, A., et al. (2004).
Transforming whanau violence – A conceptual framework. Wellington, New Zealand: Te Puni Kokiri.
• Family Violence Statistics Report (2009). Wellington, New Zealand: Families Commission.
• www.rapecrisis.org.nz
• www.stats.govt.nz
• NZ Police statistics.

White Ribbon Day 25 November

White Ribbon Day, 25 November, is the international day when men wear a white ribbon to show that they do not condone violence towards women. It was started by a men’s movement in Canada in 1991 and has been officially adopted by the United Nations as its International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. The campaign was introduced to New Zealand by UNIFEM (the United Nations Development Fund for Women).

Back in 2006, I was working with the family violence network in Tauranga on a project for White Ribbon Day. The campaign involved getting groups of men from different walks of life to pose for photos 'badged-up' with white ribbons. We succeeded in getting 24 groups - from construction workers and sports teams, to lawyers and Lions Clubs. The Mayor and a number of Councillors also fronted for the project. The pictures were assembled as posters and were printed in the local newspapers.

One man who agreed to arrange some pictures was Jack Paki. He assembled his trucking crew from B R and S L Porters, and the Mariners basketball team that he coached. A little while later, Jack called to say that he and his brothers were planning to do a ride on Harleys from Cape Reinga to the Bluff in support of a charity, and we discussed how that could work for family violence. The end result was Jack and his brothers created "Super Maori Fullas", and in the summer of 2009 they did the ride, with the support of the Family Violence Taskforce; accompanied by the Patriots Motorcycle Club (comprising past and present members of NZ Armed Forces); and joining up with local family violence networks for events and media opportunities along the way.

I believe that this initiative is a break-through in men's responses to family violence. It has taken the discourse out of the traditional social services arena, and brought it into the domain of men, in an inescapably masculine activity.

Jack and the boys (and some women too) are doing another ride this November, in conjunction with the White Ribbon campaign - taking four separate routes from Wellington to Whangarei (nga hau e wha - the four winds). You can find out more about the ride on: http://whiteribbon.org.nz/

Locally, the TMAPS (Tauranga Moana Family Violence Network) is running an event on 25 November at the Fraser Cove Shopping Centre car park, and inviting teams of men to pit their strength on the tug-of-war machine. There will be other fun activities for the whole family to enjoy. For more information email: tmaps.nz@gmail.com

And here's another stellar example of a male response: Warriors and NZ League legend Ruben Wiki is a passionate supporter of efforts to end family violence and has joined the White Ribbon campaign to become its first national Ambassador.

As a husband, and father of two, Ruben says he is always aware that he is a role model for his children.

“What men say and do and how we behave around our children and partners has lasting effects.
I grew up in a house where my mother was beaten by her partner (not my father) and I know how scary that can be. I want to do what I can to help make sure this doesn’t happen to other mothers and children.”

So my message is: find out more about what you can do to support White Ribbon Day in your community. And to the men, let's badge-up and own our responsibilities to stop violence towards women. if you are in Tauranga, get a team together for the tug-of-war on 25 November.

Tauranga Harbour Link Project

I had an errand to run in Mt Maunganui this morning and was excited to use a brand new on-ramp onto the brand new viaduct that connects to the brand new harbour bridge. Since Christmas I have watched as concete towers have risen like mushrooms, capped and connected with broad concrete beams, onto which the carriageway sections were placed: like a giant Leggo set. The new harbour bridge was particularly interesting as it was poured/formed in a shed on one side and each week, a new section was added and the bridge was pushed out onto the support piers that rise from the harbour floor.

The Western Bay of Plenty region is one of New Zealand’s fastest growing areas, and Tauranga city is now the country’s sixth largest population centre. The existing Harbour Bridge was built in 1988, and it was a tolled route until 2001. Improving access between Mt Maunganui and Tauranga; addressing the needs of the Port of Tauranga; and providing for rapidly increasing traffic flows have exercised local and national planners ever since the first bridge was built. Today 36,000 vehicles a day cross the bridge. This is likely to grow to about 59,000 vehicles on the existing bridge, which has an ideal capacity of about 29,000 vehicles per day.

The Harbour Link Project is a massive engineering project that involves building a duplicate harbour bridge; and improving access to the two bridges via a viaduct across several roads and railway track on the Tauranga side, and widening the main road (double lanes and bus lane) on the Mt Maunganui side. In addition pedestrian and cycle paths have been incorporated in the design from the outset.

I want to make special mention of Fletchers Construction Ltd who are building this project. In particular to acknowledge their meticulous planning for safety in a complex environment: over water, roads and railway lines where they are concerned not only about the safety of their own staff, but also for the general public who move around and through the costruction zone. Those 36,000 cars continue to flow throughout the project. I have gotten to know Mark Taylor, the Health and Safety Coordinator, and have witnessed his innovative methods for 'embedding' safety in the minds and conduct of every employee - well done Mark.

For newcomers to Tauranga (like me) this is an awesome project; to the older born-and-bred population that has watched Tauranga flourish from what was not-so-long-ago a 'retirement village and holiday beach community' it must be mind-numbing. Such are the challenges facing the City: the realities of a growing population; changing demographic; the demands for economic development; arts and culture; education; and sports and leisure. It is an exciting place to live because it is our city our future.

Sexual assault stats

The following is an article copied from http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2009/10/sexual_assaults.html I do not know who wrote it (please let me know if you do).



I’ve finally discovered something useful done by the Ministry of Women’s Affairs. They have published a study into why so few sexual assault complaints result in convictions, and it is full of interesting stats. The study is of 1,955 police files relating to sexual assaults upon an adult from July 2005 to Dec 2007.

68% of the files involved rape, 22% unlawful sexual connection, 7% attempted sexual violation and 3% other. One third of complaints are not about a valid offence. We learn that 8% were classified as false complaints, so presumably the other 26% were complaints that were not deemed to involve illegal behaviour.

Of the remaining 66% of valid offences, one sixth did not have a suspect identified which brings it down to 55%. A surprisingly high 44% of cases with an identified suspect are not prosecuted meaning 31% of all complaints result in prosecution. And of those 42% resulted in a conviction.
This means overall only 13% of complaints lead to a conviction. However the more useful figure is that 20% of “valid” complaints lead to a conviction.

So let us first look at cases not deemed valid.
‘False complaints’ were defined as cases in which the complainant was charged or warned for making a false complaint. In ‘false complaint’ cases for which further information was noted in the summary data set, the two most common file notes were that the complainant had admitted the allegation was false and that the evidence did not support the complaint. The victim had an intellectual disability or a psychiatric condition or had made previous allegations in around a third of cases.

If 8% of 1,955 cases were “false” that is 156 cases. So what about the other cases deemed not valid:
The ‘no offence’ category accounted for 34 percent of recorded cases (including the 8 percent designated ‘false complaints’), which was lower than the 45 percent ‘no offence’ rate found in a 1981 New Zealand study (Stace, 1983). So the category has dropped in frequency.

At least one in five cases did not proceed due to victim withdrawal. That is, the investigating officer recorded that the victim did not want to proceed with the investigation or was uncooperative or could not be contacted. Withdrawn cases were more likely than other cases to involve an offender who was an ex-partner or boyfriend. The police files noted a variety of reasons for a victim not wanting to proceed, including that the victim wanted the offender warned or trespassed but not prosecuted; someone else reported the incident or the victim was pressured to report; the victim had limited recall of the incident; the victim wanted to report the incident or seek advice but take no further action; or the victim did not feel able to proceed, was not ready to proceed or felt threatened.

It is a shame so many victims withdraw, but I can understand why. Now why do one sixth of valid cases not have an identified suspect? The most common factors in cases with no identified suspect were that the victim withdrew from the process, there was insufficient evidence to identify a suspect who was a stranger to the victim, or the victim had limited recall due to intoxication.

So why were there no charges in 44% of cases with an identified suspect? The prosecution rate (percentage of cases with charges laid) was 31 percent based on all recorded cases or 46 percent if ‘no offence’ cases were excluded from the base. The prosecution rate for cases involving multiple offences was much higher than for single-offence cases and thus the prosecution rate based on recorded offences (49 percent) was higher than the prosecution rate for cases (31 percent). Cases in which a known suspect was not charged tended to involve either victim withdrawal or insufficient and/or conflicting evidence.

What is interesting is that victim withdrawal is a common factor at almost every stage. It is a major factor in cases not being deemed valid, in no suspect being identified and in no prosecution being undertaken. I wonder what the attrition rate at each stage would be, if there was no victim withdrawal? That would be a useful piece of data.

It seems clear that the most significant way to increase the prosecution rate of sexual assaults, would be to have fewer victims withdraw. But that is easier said that done. Many victims can have very valid reasons for not wanting the trauma of a court case.

Some interesting other factors:
- Rape cases had higher attrition rates at almost every stage of the justice process, compared with other offences.
- The 18 percent of cases that involved more than one offence were much more likely to proceed through all stages and result in a conviction than cases involving a single offence.
- The majority of offenders were previously known to the victim, with stranger assaults accounting for just 16 percent of cases and offenders just met (within the last 24 hours) accounting for a further 15 percent of cases.
- A third of cases involved victims and offenders with intimate relationships
- Attacks by a stranger were more often associated with ‘false complaints’. However, if prosecuted, stranger attacks were much more likely to result in a conviction, giving these cases a relatively high overall conviction rate. (this is logical, as it is harder for the defendant to claim consent if they were strangers)
- Current partners and boyfriends had a high prosecution rate but a very low conviction rate for sexual violation (also no surprise as issues of consent much harder to determine)
- Offenders who were family members had high prosecution and conviction rates relative to other offenders (and again this is logical as few family members ever have consensual sex)
- Cases were more likely to be classified as ‘no offence’ if the victim was uncertain whether violation had occurred. The victim was uncertain in about one in seven cases, and this factor was strongly linked to alcohol or other drug use. (that is a disturbing stat)

They also list factors that do not affect attrition:
Region (except Akl City has lower level of no offence cases)
Victim Gender
Victim Ethnicity
Victim Origin
Victim Criminal History
Victim is a sex worker
Offender Gender
Offender Age
Offender Ethnicity
Offender Origin
Incident Timing
This is actually very pleasing. It would be a concern if the demographics of either the victim or offender caused a lower or higher attrition rate in terms of prosecution or conviction.

Also some interesting stats on the 31% of cases that had charges laid:
16% plead guilty
30% had the case withdrawn or discharged
52% went to trial
Of those that went to trial 50.5% were acquitted and 49.5% found guilty

This is a really invaluable report, full of data. It has certainly given me a much better understanding of how the justice system deals with sexual assault complaints, and should be very useful for policy makers as they seek to improve the system.

"Say NO to USC" (unwanted sexual contact)

Back in October 2008, I worked with a small project team to put together a funding application to the Ministry of Justice Sexual Assault Primary Prevention Contestable Funding Round. Primay prevention means "before it happens". I confess that I knew very little about this particular topic but found an amazing group of people with whom it was all too familiar: Police, medical practitioners, counsellors, student health coordinators, sexual health educators...

Several things quickly became apparent: since Tauranga HELP had closed, there was no agency in the community that had sexual assault prevention education as its primary function; there were issues about reporting; uncertainty around access to support for victims; and there were alarming stories in the media about young women (school age) who were sexually active, usually in conjunction with excessive alcohol consumption, in ways that were harmful and downright dangerous.

The successful proposal we put together was for a campaign targeting Y11- 13 (5th - 7th form) over two-years with particular focus on the periods of elevated risk: school ball season, school leaving, and summer holidays. We convened a youth focus group comprising students nominated by the student health coordinators from most of the local secondary schools. The students were hugely instrumental in the design and content of the campaign. For instance, they told us that without alcohol there wouldn't be casual sex at their age; they said terms like 'sexual assault', 'sexual violence' and 'sexual abuse' didn't resonate for them: sexual assault/violence is when you are dragged kicking and screaming into the bushes and raped; sexual abuse is what adults do to children. So when pressed to describe what does happen for them they called it 'unwanted sexual contact'. And so the campaign was born: "Say NO to USC".

Activities so far include: 'Dealing with Disclosure' workshops for schools and community agencies; txt-to-win limo contest for students to win a limo for their school ball - all entrants were text-bombed with personal safety messages on the night of their ball; Student Information Cards designed by the students and that are proving to be very popular; the associated alcohol-related campaign "James and Ella go to the Ball" (featured in a previous blog); and a display at the Y11 Anti Drink:Drive Expo attended by 2,000 year 11 students from six secondary schools and from the alternative education providers.

Coming up, we are displaying our resources at two student health days; and "Keeping Ourselves and Our Daughters Safe" event organised by ZONTA in association with the White Ribbon Day in November. We are distributing printed fluoro pens and brochures to every school leaver in the district, and over the summer will be giving away thousands of brightly coloured temporary tattoos on the beaches.

At the 'Dealing with Disclosure' workshops we were asked: what is the average length of time between a sexual assault occurring and a disclosure? not days, not weeks, not months...10 or more years! Our campaign is bringing the topic out into the open, and encouraging young people to keep themselves safe, and get help if something happens.

For more information on the campaign check out our website: http://www.teentools.co.nz/ If you or someone you know needs help - for free, independent and confidential advice call Tauranga Moana Victim Support (07) 577 4356 or txt 027 4 VICTIM

"School's Out for Summer"

I was delighted to get a phone call on Friday evening from Brian Hayward from ALAC letting us know we were successful in our funding application for a summer youth alcohol campaign entitled "School's Out for Summer". Tauranga Safe City is the applicant/fund holder and the project is being planned in conjuction with the YATA (youth access to alcohol) network. We can now get on with the planning for what will be a two-month long project targeting alcohol harm-reduction with under 18s.

The lowering of the purchase age; targeted marketing of RTDs (alcohol-fueled soft drinks); and the proliferation of liquor outlets has made alcohol far more accessible to young people, and with it, a corresponding escalation in harm. Interestingly, the young people in our focus groups tell us they get alcohol from their parents, who are often drinking at the same time; and that the parents believe they are doing the right thing supplying their teens. The "School's Out for Summer" campaign will seek to address these issues both at a population level, and with individual young people and their families.

The project is in two parts: a social marketing campaign targeting young people, and their parents/caregivers; and a 'brief intervention' project. For the social marketing, a youth focus group will help develop key messages, and there will be extensive advertising, back-of-buses, radio, internet and giveaways (coloured zincs). Also participating are the members of the Off-Licence Alcohol Accord: a group comprising off-licence retailers, monitoring and enforcement, and health promotion agencies.

The 'brief intervention' component will undertake follow-ups by trained counsellors for every under 18 who requires treatment/assistance from Tauranga Hospital Emergency Department and/or St Johns Ambulance; or is assisted by Police or the Get Smart street vans - where alcohol is a contributing factor. There is solid research that this sort of intervention is effective in reducing the risk of repeat incidents occuring. ALAC will be actively involved in this project, as it has been introduced in other districts with good success, and they are keen to see it rolled-out around the country.

Alcohol and heavy drinking

This past week Tauranga hosted a lecture by Prof Doug Sellman, Professor of Psychiatry and Addictions at Otago University. Doug has taken himself out of his comfort-zone of academia and is undertaking a nation-wide speaking tour promoting a campaign to reduce alcohol-related harm. This coincides with the Law Commission Review of the regulatory framework for the sale/supply of alcohol.

In his presentation, Doug takes a scientific approach to identifying alcohol-related harm. He presents evidence of the effects of alcohol on the brain, and its impact: crime, health, and social. From a clinical perspective, he concludes that 25% of drinkers in NZ can be classified as heavy drinkers (by frequency and volume consumed). This equates to 700,000 people (the total population of Wellington and Christchurch combined). No one wants to hear this message because none of us wants to accept that we might be one of them. Bill Faulkner, a City Councillor has challenged this in the media. He holds to the familiar refrain that most people handle their liquor and the problems are with a small minority.

For more information on Doug Sellman's campaign, I will attach the alcoholaction website to my Facebook page along with this blog. For more information on the Law Commission Review, check out the website that I will also post.

Submissions on the Law Commission Report close on 30 October. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to have your say on how this country should regulate the sale/supply of alcohol. You can make your submission in a variety of ways - including on-line. Your submissions can be collective, individual, or from your agency. The YATA (youth access to alcohol) network is meeting on Wednesday 21 October to prepare a collective submission. However you chose to do it, don't remain silent on this issue.

Tsunami alert fall-out

Local media have been quick to point out deficiencies in the Civil Defence communications at the time of the alert. While national CD was telling people to listen to their local radio stations: at a local level, on-line and radio media are complaining about lack of timely information and lack of clear instructions from the regional CD.

One conclusion reached is that organisationally CD are far better prepared to deal with the aftermath of a disaster, rather than leading preemptive action. In the current regime, each agency (eg Police, fire, ambulance, hospital, local and regional councils) have their own disaster management plans that are coordinated from CD Headquarters in the event of an emergency. There is more work required to address our responsiveness in advance of a catastrophic event.

Tsunami alert

Our hearts go out to the people of Samoa, both in the islands, and to those that have made NZ their home; and to the grieving people of Tonga. The devastating loss of life, homes and villages is a grim reminder of the vulnerability of our Pacific neighbours to the elements: earthquake, tsunami, hurricane. I traveled to the Cook Is twice this year and plan to visit again over New Year. I have an elderly uncle there who has lived in the Cooks and Fiji since the 1950s. I find it impossible to visualise that idyllic environment being smashed-over and destroyed: it is such a contradiction.

New Zealand was placed on tsunami alert. The Bay of Plenty is exposed to the north and east with much of the coastline being low-lying. The much-celebrated beaches of the region become death-zones under this kind of threat. Tauranga's burgeoning suburbs that stretch long the coast from Mount Maunganui to Papamoa sit barely above sea-level protected only by coastal dunes. Authorities have wrestled with the thorny issue of how to manage the risks. The response to this recent alert was mixed, with some people responding appropriately, while others headed to the beach and other vantage points to watch. Many more remained blithely unaware and probably heard about it on the evening news. Indications are that the local Civil
Defence/Emergency Management systems were functioning well, but there are monumental challenges should they be faced with a catastrophic event here.

I tried to follow proceedings on TV, switching through all the news and local channels. I was appalled by the behaviour of Paul Henry on TVOne breakfast, and the rude treatment he dished out to a Civil Defence spokesperson - accusing them at one point of sitting around "eating croissants". The spokesperson remained calm in the face of this torrent of abuse and clearly articulated the messages he was relaying. Paul Henry - SHAME ON YOU.

...in the beginning

This is something I have been meaning to do for quite a while: to set up a place to write; think out loud; rant and rave; share information and ideas; and express my views of Tauranga, my life here, and my aspirations for the future.

Like so many, I am a relative newcomer to Tauranga, having moved from Auckland in June 2006. Over the next however-long, I will write about my experiences of settling into this new community, and my observations about the things that I believe contribute to, and detract from our quality of life here.

To all who care to join me, welcome aboard.