In 2003 Simonne Butler survived an horrific attack at the hands of her abusive partner. The attack shocked New Zealand and the story made national headlines. But much of the coverage focused on the perpetrator and not Simonne, the victim. Now, after years of physical, emotional and spiritual reco...

In 2009 David White's daughter, Helen, was shot dead by her husband Greg Meads. That murder become national news, largely, David believes, because Greg is a wealthy man. David has since become a staunch campaigner, fighting to end domestic abuse. He travels around New Zealand to spread his messag...

Can boxing help domestic abuse survivors regain their self respect? Daniella Smith, a former world champion boxer, believes so. She runs Diamonds in the Ring, a boxing gym for women. And, many of the women who train there are former clients of women's refuges. Shonie is one of them. She survived ...

Can abusive men change their behaviour? Simonne visits Jeremy Eparaima a reformed domestic abuser, to find out. Jeremy was a serial abuser until, in his mid 40's, he joined a friend on an anger management course and realised that he too needed help. After going through the 20-week course twice he...

Farida Sultana immigrated to New Zealand from Bangladesh in the early 1990's. Several years earlier she had experienced domestic abuse while living in UK. She left her relationship and received help from Shakti, as women's aid service and refugee women. After arriving in New Zealand, and realisin...

Sarah (not her real name) used to be a high functioning, well paid professional. But, what she didn't realise is that she was slowing becoming subject to extreme financial and psychological abuse by her partner. After taking a break from her career to have children, her partner began withholding ...

After Kerryn escaped an abusive marriage while living in Australia she discovered first-hand how hard it is for women and their children to restart their lives after leaving the sanctuary of a women's refuge. After moving to NZ with her young children she founded the Woven Earth charity. Much lik...

Domestic abuse affects many families in Pacific communities in NZ. But finding people to speak to about it was tougher than Simonne expected. Abuse is shrouded in secrecy and shame and people rarely speak publicly about it. So, when Simonne discovered a video called Say Something, which dramatise...