May 2025
The draft Relationships & Sexuality Education Framework - Backbone answered the Ministry of Education's questionnaire about this violence prevention tool, and also sent the responses to the Minister of Education Erica Stanford.
March 2025
Child Participation in the Family Court - The Backbone Collective unearths a major report that the Ministry of Justice tried to bury.
February 2025
The Crimes Legislation (Stalking and Harassment) Amendment Bill - February 2025 - Backbone made a submission on the anti-stalking Bill.
February 2025
Te Au Reka - E-Solution Amendment Rules - February 2025 - Backbone made a submission to the Ministry of Justice regarding the digitisation of court records and associated rule changes.
December 2024
The Evidence (Giving Evidence of Family Violence) Amendment Bill - December 2024 - Backbone made a submission regarding the need for victim-survivors to be able to give evidence in alternative ways.
December 2024
The Courts (Remote Participation) Act 2010 review consultation - Backbone answered specific consultation questions of the Ministry of Justice review of the legislation guiding use of remote participation in court proceedings.
September 2024
Backbone held the pen for a report from the Coalition for the Safety of Women and Children to the United Nation’s Committee on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) as part of the four yearly examination of how well New Zealand is doing to uphold women's rights.
August 2024
Backbone submitted a paper about children’s rights to access to justice to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child
February 2024
Backbone wrote a Briefing to the Incoming Minister of Justice urging urgent reform of the NZ Family Court to make it safe for victim-survivors and their children.
October 2023
Backbone made submissions on three Bills: Victims of Family Violence (strengthening legal protections) Legislation Bill, Family Proceedings (Dissolution for Family Violence) Amendment Bill and the Victims of Sexual Violence (Strengthening Legal Protections) Legislation Bill.
May 2023
Backbone made a submission to the Ministry of Social Development and Te Puna Aonui on family and sexual violence service gaps.
March 2023
In March 2023 Manatū Hauora Ministry of Health called for submissions to inform the development of the first women’s health strategy for Aotearoa New Zealand. Backbone made a submission highlighting the impacts of violence and abuse on women and priorities for the health system to respond accordingly.
December 2022
The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women and Girls called for papers on how family courts respond to child custody cases where violence and abuse is present. Backbone made a submission explaining the unsafe use of parental alienation allegations in New Zealand Family Courts and the impacts on women and children victim-survivors.
August 2022
Backbone submitted a thematic report to the UN Child Rights Committee which focuses on how the NZ Family Court is breaching children's rights to be free from violence and have their best interests upheld.
June 2021
The Justice select committee released their report on Supporting Children in Court Bill
March 2021
CEDAW released a mid term review report regarding New Zealand’s progress on their 2018 recommendations - including that there be a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Family Court. CEDAW considers the New Zealand Government did not take sufficient steps to implement the recommendation and the information provided by the Government was insufficient. New Zealand is required to report in 2022 on action it has taken to make the Family Courts safe and just for women and children and in particular in situations of domestic violence.
FEBRUARY 2021
Backbone made a submission on the Supporting Children in Court Bill.
September 2020
Backbone contributed to a submission on Improving Access to Civil Justice, along with other members of the Auckland Coalition for the Safety of Women and Children.
August 20
July 20
March 2020
February 2020
June 2019
May 2019
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
March 2018
January 2018
November 2017
June 2017:The Backbone Collective releases its first survey on the Family Court
May 2017: The Backbone Collective calls for a Royal Commission of Inquiry on Morning Report
May 17 2017: The Backbone Collective releases a press release in reply to Hon Amy Adams' response to the Family Court Report and makes it into the NZ Herald.
May 12 2017: The Minister of Justice and Courts responds to the Backbone's Family Court report
May 9 2017: The Backbone Collective will be making a submission on the Family and Whanau Violence Bill (deadline is 24 May 2017). Our submission will be based on the findings from our Family Court survey and Family Court Watchdog Report. We will put our submission on the website and Facebook when we have done it but as the timeframe is quite tight we might not get it finished until close to the deadline. If you do not want to make your own submission but would like to share your comments with us we can include them anonymously in our submission. Please download the document below for more detail.
April 2017
April 26 2017: The Backbone's Deb Mackenzie appears on The Project in response to the NZ Police's release of recent statistics showing that half of all homicides in New Zealand are the result of family violence.
April 20 2017: The Backbone Collective responds to Judge Ryan's comments with a press release and a slot on Morning Report.
click here to access the morning report item
April 19 2017: Judge Ryan responds to the Backbone Collective's open letter with a three-page statement.
Click HERE to access the NZ Herald's coverage and judge ryan's comments
April 10 2017: The Backbone Collective sends an open letter to Hon Amy Adams, Minister of Justice and Courts, His Honour Judge Laurence Ryan, and Ms Kathryn Beck, President of the New Zealand Law Society, requesting their specific response to the 160 questions that our members want answered about the Family Court.
April 7 2017: Listen to Deborah McKenzie talk to Tessa Barnett on bFM's The Wire about the All Eyes on the Family Court report.
CLICK HERE to access.
April 7 2017: All Eyes on the Family Court report is released on Friday 7th April, with an accompanying press release. On the same day the Backbone's second survey, also on the Family Court, goes live. Please click HERE to take the survey.
March 2017
The Backbone Collective officially launches on March 5th, in the lead-up to International Women's Day. See below for media coverage on the day and our press releases.
January 2017
On Sunday, 15th January 2017, The Backbone Collective sends an open letter to Hon Paula Bennett, Minister of Police, Hon Amy Adams, Minister of Justice and Courts, Hon Anne Tolley, Minister of Social Development; Dr Kim McGregor, Chief Victims Advisor to Government regarding the Que Langdon case.