New Zealand's Dark Secret: Domestic Abuse in the Mãori Culture

New Zealand is a wealthy Pacific nation dominated by two cultural groups: New Zealanders of European descent and the minority Mãori. The indigenous culture is experiencing a renaissance but centuries of colonization have created a disadvantaged minority struggling with poverty and an alarmingly prevalent rate of domestic abuse.

The issues have been under the spotlight in recent news that has unveiled startling statistics. In 2005, fifty percent of people sentenced for "male assaults female" assaults were Mãori even though the group makes up only 15% of the country's population. In other surveys, 42% of Mãori women reported abuse at the hands of their partner while white women reported 20%.

Abuse towards Mãori children is also alarming. New Zealand has the third highest rate of child murders in the world. The For the Sake of the Children trust confirmed 10,687 cases of neglect or abuse in 2005 and 53,097 cases of suspected child abuse. New Zealand's population is 4.1 million people. The problem is so widespread that most New Zealanders claim to know a child who has witnessed violence in their home.

The 1994 film Once Were Warriors brought a biting commentary on domestic violence in the Mãori Culture to the public. The film won critical acclaim and has been touted by many Mãori as a moment of hard to swallow truth.

New Zealand's domestic violence problem gained more public exposure in 2006 when New Zealand Governor General Dame Sylvia Cartwright addressed the nation as it reeled in the aftermath of the brutal killing of three-month old twin boys. In her speech Cartwright said it was time for New Zealand to address its own "nightmare" of its domestic abuse record.

Three month old Chris and Cru Kahui were admitted to the Starship Children's Hospital with head injuries and broken bones. The brothers were acompanied by their mother Macsyna King who cited that the twins were not feeding.