December 16, 2014
Wahine Maori top victim stats
Police say one in five assault victims in the past four months was a Maori woman – despite wahine Maori making up only 7 percent of the population.
A family member, such as a partner, ex-partner, parent or sibling, was the most likely person to carry out the assault.
For Europeans, Asians and Indians, men were more likely to be assaulted than women, but it's the opposite for Pacific Islanders and Maori.
Victim Support chief executive Kevin Tso says it's an issue that goes to the core of New Zealand demographic and cultural issues..
Maori were the most likely group to be victim of an assault in every New Zealand region.
The statistics also showed nearly three quarters of women who were sexually assaulted were under 25.
The eastern area of the North Island from Wairarapa to East Cape had by far the highest assault rate on Maori women in the July-October period, followed by Waikato was next, Wellington, and Counties-Manukau.
Gisborne police Senior Sergeant Lincoln Sycamore says Tairawhiti has a massive problem with family violence and a lot of it goes unreported.
Copyright © 2014, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com