TL;DR MfW stated women are greater victims of violence than men in their annual report. I asked for a source and they admitted they misspoke. I'm pleased that in the future we we see a more accurate view of victims of violence from a government department.

Here is my exchange with the New Zealand Ministry for Women.

Hi,

In Chief Executive’s overview from your 2015 annual report Ms. Cribb states

"New Zealand women ... are more likely than men to be victims of violence"

Later in the report you use the NZCASS figures for IPV and sexual offences, but the NZCASS contradicts Ms. Cribb:

"In 2013, neither men (24%) nor women (24%) were more or less likely to experience one or more offences than the NZ average (24%). This was also true for violent interpersonal offences and theft and damage offences." Source

I was wondering if there was another source for the statement Ms. Cribb made?

Thanks in advance,

6 weeks later

Dear Iain

Thank you for your email correspondence regarding the Ministry for Women’s Annual Report 2015.

Please be advised that there is no alternative source for Dr Cribb’s statement, and I hope that my response clarifies the matter you have raised in your email.

Dr Cribb’s statement was intended as a broad overview to preface the more specific and technical commentary contained in the main part of report. It is drafted within the context of the Ministry for Women’s work, for example, its work to address the impacts of family violence and sexual violence on women. As such, Dr Cribb’s statement was intended to indicate that women are more likely than men to be victims of intimate partner violence and sexual violence. I accept, however, that the statement is broader by referring to women as being more likely to be victims of violence.

As a result of your email, we have reviewed the Ministry for Women’s draft Annual Report 2016. The report will be released in October 2016 and I encourage you to review it, as you have with the 2015 report.

Thank you again for being in touch with the Ministry for Women.

Best wishes

Principal Policy Analyst