Government's domestic violence centre cuts 22 jobs

The Centre for Family Violence and Sexual Violence Prevention is cutting 22 jobs - a change that Secretary for Justice Andrew Kibblewhite says will "sharpen" the organisation's focus.A restructure will see 35 roles replaced by 13 new positions from 28 September.Kibblewhite - who was also chair of the Centre's board - said the restructure would retain specialist skills, strengthen Māori capability, clarify policy and increase governance and communications support."Throughout consultation, we heard how important it is to maintain strong and trusted engagement with the family violence and sexual violence sector, and to ensure the voices of communities, Māori, iwi, providers, victims and survivors continue to shape strategic direction."Kibblewhite said he was aware the lead-up to the restructure had been a difficult and unsettling time for staff but said the board remained committed to the organisation's goals to end family and sexual violence."There is still much work ahead to achieve the ambitions of Te Aorerekura, the national strategy which aims to end family violence and sexual violence by unifying and driving government, but these changes will support a more focused, joined-up, accountable and effective system response," Kibblewhite said.Kibblewhite said the board remained committed to the organisation's goals to end family and sexual violence.123RFAdvocates for Family violence prevention had criticised the expense and effectiveness of the organisation's work.In June, the father of Helen Meads (who was murdered by her abusive husband in 2009), David White MNZM, told RNZ the centre was an "ivory tower" and a waste of money, and the government needed to urgently rethink its approach."I don't know of anything they've done that has prevented family or sexual violence in this country, and since it started [in 2016] they've managed to spend over $100 million," he told RNZ."Show me somewhere in New Zealand where a life has been changed, where an attitude has been changed, where any sort of percentage has come down. There aren't any," White said.At the time White said he was doubtful a restructure would do enough to effectively impact the extent of family and sexual violence in New Zealand."My biggest fear, is that all they're going to do is reshuffle the deck chairs on the Titanic," White said.