Male Survivors Bay of Plenty

MSA

Abuse, torture and a deep state campaign of denial

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It is well established that children were physically and sexually abused in state care in New Zealand over many decades.

But what has always been carefully hidden is the subsequent role of the Crown in deliberately, actively suppressing and stifling the bids for justice by survivors of those crimes.

This article reveals the lengths to which the Crown went – via its bureaucratic, legal and political arms – to avoid the blame and liability for crimes committed against minors in its care. The armoury of the state was deployed to stop the public from knowing the extent of this decades-long scandal, causing further trauma and harm to victims in the process.

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Abuse In Childhood Raises Your Odds Of Facing Violence Later: University Of Auckland Study

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Was your mother or stepmother ever slapped, hit, kicked, punched or beaten up?

Did you live with anyone who was a problem drinker or alcoholic? Did you live with anyone who was depressed, mentally ill or suicidal? Did a parent or adult in your home ever swear at you, insult you, or put you down?

A University of Auckland study explores the association between experiencing adverse childhood events and being subjected to violence in later life.

Emotional abuse at home as a child means you’re nearly three times more likely to experience violence from an intimate partner in later life, the research shows.

Experiencing just one adverse event in childhood – as half of the population does – is associated with increased odds of being subject to violence later.

The research, published in the journal Child Abuse & Neglect, analysed the responses of nearly 2,900 people who took part in New Zealand’s 2019 Family Violence Survey.

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Engagement on National Strategy and Action Plans to eliminate family violence and sexual violence launched

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The government is inviting feedback from tangata whenua, victim-survivors, communities throughout the country, service providers and individuals.

The government has launched work to develop a National Strategy and Action plans to eliminate family violence and sexual violence in Aotearoa New Zealand. The Joint Venture is coordinating this work.

This consultation starts on 12 May 2021 and ends on 30 June 2021.  After the consultation, there will be hui with key stakeholders to bring together the feedback. It is expected a National Strategy and Action Plans will be delivered in October 2021. 

Information about how to give feedback is on the Joint Venture website: violencefree.govt.nz/have-your-say/.

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Supporting young men who are affected by suicide

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People cope with grief in different ways, and the same holds true following a suicide. Many people will experience a broad range of emotions including, anger, hurt and sadness.

Although each person experiences grief in their own way, some common patterns occur. In his latest research, Victoria University of Wellington School of Education Lecturer Dr Chris Bowden examined the grief experienced by young men aged 18-25.

Chris is part of a network that responds following a suicide to provide ‘post-vention’ (as opposed to prevention) advice to schools. This network also includes the Traumatic Incident team from the Ministry of Education.

In his research into young men who had lost a friend to suicide, Chris found they were likely to experience four different types of silence as part of their grieving process.

I was trying to get to the heart of what they experienced, what was common amongst all of them. That’s what phenomenology is about, it’s about getting to the essence of their experience, and silence was at the heart of that.

Dr Chris Bowden

Previous studies have found that some people bereaved by suicide experience stigma. Silence is part of that stigma, but these young men experienced different types of silence. This is new knowledge.

Dr Chris Bowden

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Place for men to open up and talk about sexual trauma

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A SPACE for male survivors of sexual violence has opened up in the heart of Tairawhiti.

The official launch of Te Hokai Male Survivors Tairawhiti was held at 73 Peel Street where Tauawhi Men’s Centre co-ordinator Tim Marshall, former Male Survivors Aotearoa (MSA) national advocate Ken Clearwater, MSA chairperson Phil Chapman, Green MP and former undersecretary for family and sexual violence Jan Logie spoke about setting up spaces like this.

It has been a long journey to get to this point.

Tim Marshall

Seeds for this kaupapa (mission) were planted well before today’s event and we have Ken Clearwater to thank for that — sharing his own survivor story and creating a safe space for others.

Tim Marshall

Tauawhi Trust is the fundholder of the kaupapa. The trust was set up a few years back as a community partner to Tauawhi Men’s Centre and Presbyterian Support East Coast.

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About Us.

Male Survivors Bay of Plenty is a registered charitable trust established to support male survivors of trauma and sexual abuse. We provide peer support, counselling and social services throughout the Bay of Plenty. We are a member organisation of Male Survivors Aotearoa.