Latest news with #WellingtonRapeCrisis
Scoop
13-05-2025
- Scoop
What Pay Equity Has To Do With Ending Sexual Violence
Wellington Rape Crisis - Latest News [Page 1] Unequal pay, insecure work, and economic dependence don't just create hardship. They create conditions where violence can thrive, and where survivors are forced to choose between safety and survival. More >> Wellington Rape Crisis Popup Service in Newtown Thursday, 7 June 2018, 11:29 am | Wellington Rape Crisis Wellington Rape Crisis is excited to be offering Whanau Manaaki, a pop up drop-in service to family and friends of survivors of sexual harm in Newtown Mall, every Thursday, from the 7th of June to the 30th of August. More >> Wellington Rape Crisis launches its 2018 Annual Appeal Monday, 26 February 2018, 5:21 pm | Wellington Rape Crisis Wellington Rape Crisis will hold its annual appeal this week, with street collectors throughout Wellington on Friday 2nd March and Saturday 3rd March. More >> Wellington Rape Crisis launches its Annual Appeal Tuesday, 28 March 2017, 10:35 am | Wellington Rape Crisis Wellington Rape Crisis' annual appeal is happening this week, with street collectors raising money on 30th March and sponsor events running through the week. More >> Speak Easy - A night of performance poetry and burlesque Tuesday, 5 July 2016, 9:53 am | Wellington Rape Crisis Speak Easy is a performance poetry and burlesque fundraiser show to raise money for Wellington Rape Crisis. It will feature some of Wellington's best poets, storytellers and burlesque performers all coming together under one roof, 8pm July 16th at The ... More >> Wellington Rape Crisis launches its Annual Appeal Tuesday, 29 March 2016, 12:38 pm | Wellington Rape Crisis Wellington Rape Crisis' annual appeal is happening this week, with street collectors raising money on 31 March and sponsor events running through the week. More >> Wellington Rape Crisis condemns pro-rape meetup Tuesday, 2 February 2016, 10:14 am | Wellington Rape Crisis Wellington Rape Crisis condemns pro-rape meetup and asks men to stand up to abuse More >> Time to take action over sexual violence Wednesday, 16 December 2015, 3:06 pm | Wellington Rape Crisis It is time for the government to take action to support the sexual violence sector, say key agencies for survivors in Wellington. More >> Wellington Rape Crisis launches its Annual Appeal Monday, 4 May 2015, 9:13 am | Wellington Rape Crisis Wellington Rape Crisis will hold its annual appeal this week, with street collectors throughout Wellington on Thursday 7 May and Saturday 9 May. More >> Sexual violence threats toward Taranaki journalist Monday, 26 January 2015, 1:15 pm | Wellington Rape Crisis Wellington Rape Crisis agency manager Eleanor Butterworth says, 'the sense of anonymity that people seem to feel when using forums like Facebook, Twitter and blogging has come with it a disturbing shift in what is considered normal when it comes to the ... More >> Rape Crisis calls for changes to criminal justice system Thursday, 30 October 2014, 12:11 pm | Wellington Rape Crisis Wellington Rape Crisis has added its voice to the public outcry following the announcement that there will be no charges in the teen rape gang case. Butterworth says the decision not to lay charges will not have been a surprise for many who work in this area, ... More >> Universities must do more to stop sexual abuse of students Wednesday, 8 October 2014, 1:40 pm | Wellington Rape Crisis Universities must do more in response to the abuse of their female students on social media, after another exploitative Facebook group has been discovered, says Wellington Rape Crisis. More >> Wellington Rape Crisis launches appeal week Monday, 31 March 2014, 3:09 pm | Wellington Rape Crisis Today Wellington Rape Crisis launches its annual appeal week that will see the service taking part in seven days of awareness raising and fundraising, culminating in their annual street appeal on Friday the 4th of April. More >> Wellington Rape Crisis statement on Roastbusters and police Thursday, 7 November 2013, 1:11 pm | Wellington Rape Crisis Wellington Rape Crisis (WRC) has been overwhelmed with messages of outrage from members of the public about the group of Auckland rapists calling themselves 'Roast Busters', as well as about subsequent media coverage. Concern for survivors of these rapes ... More >> Call for Herald to apologise for articles Wednesday, 2 October 2013, 4:24 pm | Wellington Rape Crisis The agency Wellington Rape Crisis is calling on the NZ Herald to cease the publication of articles that contribute to rape culture and to apologise for the damage done to survivors of rape and sexual assault. More >> People urged to submit to select committee inquiry Monday, 23 September 2013, 5:06 pm | Wellington Rape Crisis Wellington Rape Crisis (WRC) is urging as many people and organisations as possible to submit to the Social Services Select Committee Inquiry on Funding for Sexual Abuse Services. Submissions close on Thursday 10 October 2013. More >> Panel Discussion on Rape Culture featuring Louise Nicholas Thursday, 11 April 2013, 5:21 pm | Wellington Rape Crisis Wellington Rape Crisis (WRC) is hosting a discussion panel about rape culture and the effect that rape myths have on both the criminal justice system and survivors of sexual violence. This is a members event (non members can join on the door). More >> Wellington Rape Crisis joins call to end global violence Tuesday, 12 February 2013, 11:28 am | Wellington Rape Crisis On Thursday 14th February, Wellington Rape Crisis will support One Billion Rising Wellington, part of a global movement calling for an end to violence against women and girls. More >>
Scoop
13-05-2025
- General
- Scoop
What Pay Equity Has To Do With Ending Sexual Violence
Press Release – Wellington Rape Crisis Unequal pay, insecure work, and economic dependence dont just create hardship. They create conditions where violence can thrive, and where survivors are forced to choose between safety and survival. At Wellington Rape Crisis, our work is rooted in healing, justice, and the belief that every person deserves to live free from violence and its harm. Pay equity might not be the first thing that comes to mind when people think about preventing sexual violence. But at Wellington Rape Crisis, we know the two are deeply connected. The care and social services sectors—where the majority of frontline workers are women—form the backbone of our wellbeing as a society. This is the workforce that holds trauma, repairs harm, supports healing, and strengthens community safety. Yet care work remains chronically underpaid and undervalued. This isn't just an oversight—it's the result of gendered power imbalances that stretch across our economy, institutions, and communities, showing up clearly in the persistent gaps in pay between men and women, and between dominant and marginalised groups. Every day, we walk alongside survivors who are navigating harm not just from individuals, but from systems — economic, legal, and social — that too often fail to protect them. Unequal pay, insecure work, and economic dependence don't just create hardship. They create conditions where violence can thrive, and where survivors are forced to choose between safety and survival. If we are serious about ending sexual violence, we must be just as serious about ending the gender pay gap -—and resourcing the care economy that supports healing and safety for all. Power and Pay: Whose Work Is Valued? When we talk about pay equity, we're talking about power. Being underpaid isn't just a financial issue, it's a social one. It sends a message: your work, your time, and your contributions matter less. When people are paid unfairly based on gender, ethnicity, or identity, it reinforces a message that some lives are worth more than others. In Aotearoa, the care workforce is overwhelmingly made up of women—particularly Māori, Pasifika, migrant, and working-class women. The low wages in these sectors reflect a long history of devaluing care as 'women's work,' even though it is critical to our collective wellbeing. This imbalance plays out in the workplace, where unequal pay often goes hand-in-hand with less job security, fewer leadership opportunities, and less protection from harm. These conditions can make it easier for bullying, harassment, and sexual violence to occur—and harder for those affected to speak up safely. When pay doesn't reflect the value of the work, it undermines not only those who provide care, but those who depend on it. Economic Dependence Can Trap Survivors We see every day how financial insecurity can make people more vulnerable to violence. When someone is underpaid or financially dependent on a partner or employer, they may not feel safe or able to leave an unsafe situation. This isn't a reflection of weakness, it's a reflection of how our systems are set up, and they often fail to protect those who need support the most. Survivors have shared with us how the fear of losing income, housing, or childcare keeps them silent. To truly support survivors, we need to build a society where people have the economic freedom to choose safety, healing and justice. These aren't two separate problems—they're symptoms of the same broken systems. The undervaluing of care work and the economic silencing and oppression of survivors are both rooted in the same dynamics: the minimization of gendered labour and expertise, the concentration of power, and a refusal by those in power and those with influence to invest in what truly keeps our communities safe. Culture, Care, and Commitment Every workplace sends a message about what is acceptable—and what isn't. But workplaces don't exist in a vacuum. They are shaped by—and help uphold—broader systems and beliefs about whose work matters, who deserves protection, what kinds of labour—and which people performing it—are treated as expendable. When an organisation ignores or justifies pay disparities, it can also create an environment where other harmful behaviours are overlooked. On the other hand, when workplaces commit to fairness and equity, they begin to disrupt those systems. They contribute to a culture where respect, safety, and justice can take root. This is just as true in the social services sector as anywhere else. Achieving Pay Equity for social workers has been critical to our organisation Wellington Rape Crisis, to our non-profit community sector, and the survivors we serve. For too long, our sector and workforces have struggled to retain skilled, qualified professionals. The low wages set by government procurement fail to reflect the high level of expert skill, emotional intelligence and labour, and risk our staff carry every day. It's important to name clearly: this is not unskilled work. Social workers and other care professionals are trained to the same standard as many other regulated professions—such as accountants or lawyers—with comparable education, registration, and ongoing professional requirements. The difference is not in the skill, but in how society has chosen to value women-dominated professions. Undervaluing is not the same as unskilled. The loss of commitment to maintaining the pay equity claim is devastating. It takes us back in time—to when we were unable to sustain a capable and specialist workforce needed to meet the growing demand from survivors and their families. Without sustained pay equity, we risk losing the very people who hold space for healing, who walk alongside survivors in their darkest moments, and who are essential to a functioning, compassionate response to violence and a society we all want to participate in. Survivors Deserve Better Systems Seeking justice—whether through a pay equity claim or reporting sexual violence—is often met with enormous barriers: disbelief, retaliation, complicated processes, and emotional exhaustion. These systems weren't built with survivors in mind. They often protect power, not people. When we listen to survivors, one thing becomes clear: healing requires not only personal support but systemic change. We must build pathways to justice that are survivor-led, trauma-informed, and rooted in equity. Some Communities Face Greater Harm Sexual violence and economic injustice don't impact everyone equally. Māori women, Pasifika women, disabled people, trans and queer communities, and migrant workers often face greater risks—of both exploitation and violence. These overlapping forms of discrimination must be recognised and addressed together. True equity means making space for every voice, especially those who have been pushed to the margins. Healing Means Justice, and Justice Includes Pay Equity At Wellington Rape Crisis, we believe that healing doesn't happen in isolation—it happens in community. And communities are strongest when they are just, inclusive, and safe. Pay equity is part of that vision. It's part of what safety looks like. When we honour the value of every person's work and life, we create a foundation where violence has less room to grow. Let's work together—as envisaged in Te Aorerekura—to build a future where care is valued, survivors are heard, and safety is not a privilege, but a right. For a future where no one is held back—or held down—by systems that harm. Until we close the pay gap, we are leaving the door open to abuse.
Scoop
13-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
What Pay Equity Has To Do With Ending Sexual Violence
At Wellington Rape Crisis, our work is rooted in healing, justice, and the belief that every person deserves to live free from violence and its harm. Pay equity might not be the first thing that comes to mind when people think about preventing sexual violence. But at Wellington Rape Crisis, we know the two are deeply connected. The care and social services sectors—where the majority of frontline workers are women—form the backbone of our wellbeing as a society. This is the workforce that holds trauma, repairs harm, supports healing, and strengthens community safety. Yet care work remains chronically underpaid and undervalued. This isn't just an oversight—it's the result of gendered power imbalances that stretch across our economy, institutions, and communities, showing up clearly in the persistent gaps in pay between men and women, and between dominant and marginalised groups. Every day, we walk alongside survivors who are navigating harm not just from individuals, but from systems — economic, legal, and social — that too often fail to protect them. Unequal pay, insecure work, and economic dependence don't just create hardship. They create conditions where violence can thrive, and where survivors are forced to choose between safety and survival. If we are serious about ending sexual violence, we must be just as serious about ending the gender pay gap -—and resourcing the care economy that supports healing and safety for all. Power and Pay: Whose Work Is Valued? When we talk about pay equity, we're talking about power. Being underpaid isn't just a financial issue, it's a social one. It sends a message: your work, your time, and your contributions matter less. When people are paid unfairly based on gender, ethnicity, or identity, it reinforces a message that some lives are worth more than others. In Aotearoa, the care workforce is overwhelmingly made up of women—particularly Māori, Pasifika, migrant, and working-class women. The low wages in these sectors reflect a long history of devaluing care as 'women's work,' even though it is critical to our collective wellbeing. This imbalance plays out in the workplace, where unequal pay often goes hand-in-hand with less job security, fewer leadership opportunities, and less protection from harm. These conditions can make it easier for bullying, harassment, and sexual violence to occur—and harder for those affected to speak up safely. When pay doesn't reflect the value of the work, it undermines not only those who provide care, but those who depend on it. Economic Dependence Can Trap Survivors We see every day how financial insecurity can make people more vulnerable to violence. When someone is underpaid or financially dependent on a partner or employer, they may not feel safe or able to leave an unsafe situation. This isn't a reflection of weakness, it's a reflection of how our systems are set up, and they often fail to protect those who need support the most. Survivors have shared with us how the fear of losing income, housing, or childcare keeps them silent. To truly support survivors, we need to build a society where people have the economic freedom to choose safety, healing and justice. These aren't two separate problems—they're symptoms of the same broken systems. The undervaluing of care work and the economic silencing and oppression of survivors are both rooted in the same dynamics: the minimization of gendered labour and expertise, the concentration of power, and a refusal by those in power and those with influence to invest in what truly keeps our communities safe. Culture, Care, and Commitment Every workplace sends a message about what is acceptable—and what isn't. But workplaces don't exist in a vacuum. They are shaped by—and help uphold—broader systems and beliefs about whose work matters, who deserves protection, what kinds of labour—and which people performing it—are treated as expendable. When an organisation ignores or justifies pay disparities, it can also create an environment where other harmful behaviours are overlooked. On the other hand, when workplaces commit to fairness and equity, they begin to disrupt those systems. They contribute to a culture where respect, safety, and justice can take root. This is just as true in the social services sector as anywhere else. Achieving Pay Equity for social workers has been critical to our organisation Wellington Rape Crisis, to our non-profit community sector, and the survivors we serve. For too long, our sector and workforces have struggled to retain skilled, qualified professionals. The low wages set by government procurement fail to reflect the high level of expert skill, emotional intelligence and labour, and risk our staff carry every day. It's important to name clearly: this is not unskilled work. Social workers and other care professionals are trained to the same standard as many other regulated professions—such as accountants or lawyers—with comparable education, registration, and ongoing professional requirements. The difference is not in the skill, but in how society has chosen to value women-dominated professions. Undervaluing is not the same as unskilled. The loss of commitment to maintaining the pay equity claim is devastating. It takes us back in time—to when we were unable to sustain a capable and specialist workforce needed to meet the growing demand from survivors and their families. Without sustained pay equity, we risk losing the very people who hold space for healing, who walk alongside survivors in their darkest moments, and who are essential to a functioning, compassionate response to violence and a society we all want to participate in. Survivors Deserve Better Systems Seeking justice—whether through a pay equity claim or reporting sexual violence—is often met with enormous barriers: disbelief, retaliation, complicated processes, and emotional exhaustion. These systems weren't built with survivors in mind. They often protect power, not people. When we listen to survivors, one thing becomes clear: healing requires not only personal support but systemic change. We must build pathways to justice that are survivor-led, trauma-informed, and rooted in equity. Some Communities Face Greater Harm Sexual violence and economic injustice don't impact everyone equally. Māori women, Pasifika women, disabled people, trans and queer communities, and migrant workers often face greater risks—of both exploitation and violence. These overlapping forms of discrimination must be recognised and addressed together. True equity means making space for every voice, especially those who have been pushed to the margins. Healing Means Justice, and Justice Includes Pay Equity At Wellington Rape Crisis, we believe that healing doesn't happen in isolation—it happens in community. And communities are strongest when they are just, inclusive, and safe. Pay equity is part of that vision. It's part of what safety looks like. When we honour the value of every person's work and life, we create a foundation where violence has less room to grow. Let's work together—as envisaged in Te Aorerekura—to build a future where care is valued, survivors are heard, and safety is not a privilege, but a right. For a future where no one is held back—or held down—by systems that harm. Until we close the pay gap, we are leaving the door open to abuse.
