Police figures comparing the week before the lockdown show a 22 per cent increase in investigations. Mirroring the police figures are those from Women's Refuge, showing a 20 per cent increase in calls related to domestic violence. She said that initial spike had now settled but expected a move to level 2 lockdown to bring a second surge in women coming forward. Women's Refuge is renting Airbnb properties and motels to house women and maintain the integrity of lockdown bubbles. Prime Minister Jacinda Adern said: "We have to change the way we confront domestic violence - not just through our services but also through the way we seek to address domestic violence as a nation, and the way we encourage conversation and an entire culture change."

Source: Otago Daily Times May 01, 2020 02:48 UTC