This paper is included in the report of the Pacific Women's Watch [New Zealand], Half-Day Seminar, Saturday, 22 November 2008, held at Somervell Church & Community Centre, Remuera, Auckland (pges 13-17).

This speech given by Deborah McKenzie from Preventing Violence in the Home (Auckland) is focused on societal expectations about what women can do when they trying to leave a violent relationship. Introducing the topic, the speaker describes the demand for services, the limited resources available to help women, and the difficulties in keeping offenders away from the women they abuse. McKenzie challenges the view she commonly encounters that once the violence has been reported the victim is then out of danger. She describes the response of the justice system to domestic violence, noting that this response appears to be based on the idea that women need to change rather than the violent offender. Inappropriate practices in court are described such as asking the victim in front of the offender whether he should get bail. McKenzie challenges those in decision making roles in particular to explore their beliefs about women in violent relationships.