Refuges Confirm Amendments (Press, 28 October 1985)

On 28 October 1985, representatives from 31 of New Zealand's 34 women's refuges met in Wellington to affirm their commitment to the constitutional amendments that have sparked controversy within the refuge movement. The gathering, led by national co-ordinator Ms Rosemary Ash of the National Collective of Independent Women’s Refuges, supported the direction the collective is pursuing. The controversial amendments, adopted in June, had led to the resignation of the West Auckland Refuge and the Christchurch Battered Women’s Support Groups earlier in August. Dr John and Mrs Doris Church, co-ordinators of the Christchurch group, alleged last month that the refuge movement was becoming dominated by radical and lesbian separatists. Ms Ash expressed her concern over Dr Church's statements, labelling them as "inaccurate and misleading." She clarified that the Christchurch group lacked knowledge about the proceedings at the Wellington meeting due to their resignation from the collective, and emphasised that only active members participated in the discussions. She reiterated that none of the amendments proposed had been discarded. The governance changes regarding the aims and objectives of the refuge movement were reapproved, with some reworded for clarity and inclusiveness. However, revisions on the movement’s code of practice are still in progress and will be addressed in future meetings. The primary focus across the refuges remains centred on the welfare of abused women and children, alongside efforts to assist abusers in understanding their actions. Ms Ash asserted that this commitment is shared by all groups, including those who have left the collective. When queried about the ideological disparities that led to the resignations, Ms Ash mentioned the difficulty in understanding the motivations of the dissenting groups, indicating a wide array of complaints had been raised. The amendments aimed to uphold and protect the rights of women against discrimination—including sexual preference—and promote personal growth and autonomy. They also focus on preventing violence, raising public awareness about women's refuges, advocating for legal reforms benefiting women in volatile domestic situations, and providing support for operational and financial sustainability within the refuge network. The collective intends to ensure that their framework fosters confidentiality, equality, and cooperation amongst the refuges while facilitating financial assistance and employment for those implementing its objectives.

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