Fudging the issue

Despite the statistics, she believed NZ was still the best place to raise children, but "we can do better".

That's Annette King, Police Minister, commenting on the high number of domestic killings happening in NZ.

She is reacting to Peter Boshier, Family Court Judge, who said yesterday;

"We used to say of ourselves that New Zealand was the greatest country in the world to bring up children. If that was ever true, we cannot be so proud or complacent now.

"As judges, we see the damage daily. What is done to one is done to all. Domestic violence has become an issue for all New Zealanders."

I tend to find for Mrs King. Why? Because she is taking an individualist approach. Many families have decided NZ is still the best place to bring up kids. For them the statement is true.

Treating domestic violence as a collective issue will never change anything. I don't accept that it is spread evenly across cultures and socio-economic class. That is a myth the apologists push. And I don't know what the Judge really means by, what is done to one is done to all. That is empty rhetoric. If somebody says a problem has "become an issue for all New Zealanders" you can bet they want to put their hand in your pocket to try to sort it out.