TY  - SER
AU  - Wurtzburg, Susan J.
TI  - The Pacific Islands community in New Zealand: domestic violence and access to justice
SN  - 0887-4034
PY  - 2003///
KW  - FVC
KW  - CULTURAL ISSUES
KW  - DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
KW  - Domestic Violence Act 1995
KW  - FAMILIES
KW  - INTERVENTION
KW  - JUSTICE
KW  - LEGISLATION
KW  - RELIGION
KW  - PACIFIC PEOPLES
KW  - INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE
KW  - PASIFIKA
KW  - NEW ZEALAND
N1  - Criminal Justice Policy Review 14(3) September 2003 : 423-446
N2  - This article begins with a summary of the Domestic Violence Act (1995), and highlights that Pacific Island women in Christchurch are penalised for their ethnic and gender origins. The research provides a discussion of the Domestic Violence Act and its provisions, and of ethnic considerations for many Pacific Island cultures. The methodology employed in this research is participant-observation using the snowball sampling method. Observations occurred over 5 years at a Christchurch women's refuge, over 2 years at a Christchurch organisation providing programmes for violent males, and the researcher spent time in a number of Polynesian Islands conducting interviews with 76 participants. The research suggests that attitudes and beliefs of the police influence decisions about arresting someone under the Domestic Violence Act. Further, the widespread implications of language barriers and religious issues are explored, and the research concludes with implications and suggestions for public policy and services. The article suggests that strengthening the links between the justice system and various Pacific Island church ministers may help meld attitudes about religion and ethnicity to alleviate tension
ER  -