Women’s Refuge Movement Upset About Statement (Press, 26 September 1985)

On 26 September 1985, the Christchurch Women’s Refuge expressed its shock and disappointment over recent statements made by Mrs Doris Church, coordinator of the Christchurch Battered Women’s Support Group. The refuge collective, represented by spokeswoman Ms Kate Rose, found Mrs Church's remarks offensive, particularly her claims that many refuges for battered women had been infiltrated by radical elements of the feminist movement. Mrs Church suggested that Government funding had merely created an employment platform for extremist feminists. In response, Mrs Church and her husband, Dr John Church, published a booklet titled "The Future of Refuge in New Zealand," outlining their reasons for withdrawing from the national collective and including recommendations for the future of refuges. Ms Rose refuted Mrs Church's assertions, emphasising that the Christchurch Women’s Refuge operates as a collective, comprising about 30 women from diverse backgrounds united by the goal of supporting other women. She pointed out that the organisation, established in 1974, is not anti-men, but rather anti-violent men. The collective includes women with varying life experiences, such as those who are single, married, or in relationships with women. Ms Rose stated that while the group shares a feminist perspective, members come from a range of backgrounds and experiences, including those who have left violent relationships and those who have stable, non-violent partnerships. Moreover, seven other women’s groups in Christchurch joined in the criticism of Mrs Church's comments. They labelled her claims as misleading and alarming, highlighting that organisations such as Rape Crisis, Incest Survivors, Women Against Pornography, Night Shelter for Women, Women’s Centre Coalition, The Health Alternatives for Women, and Women Against Violence had consistently found the Christchurch Women’s Refuge to be supportive and caring towards those they referred. These representatives publicly denounced the derogatory statements made by Dr and Mrs Church, pledging their full support to the New Zealand Women’s Refuge movement.

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