Queenstown, Wanaka's hidden belly of domestic violence

She was hit in the face, spit, strangled, rugby on a table, torn from her clothes and taken hostage in her home, her young children watching their father throwing things around

But after 12 years of living in an abusive relationship, Jessie (not her real name) is free. She is so strong.

The 36-year-old mother of three is one of the victims of family violence who has sought the help of Wakatipu's Jawsaw abuse prevention network.

Tina Mongston, director of Jigsaw Central Lakes, detailed a significant leap in the number of cases around Queenstown, Wanaka and Central Otago.

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"Since 11 months we have worked with 580 clients in the entire Wakatipu Basin, an increase of 48% over the previous year.

The growing population of the region and the economic and social pressures related to life in expensive seaside resorts "

" This is really an example of the bottom of what is happening and which is hidden here.

"You hear very good stories come out of this area and I do not minimize that, but with growth"

Most of the clients were middle-income workers who were struggling and struggling to live in an expensive region, she said.

"I think the median rent is about $ 790 a week and has an impact on families – they can not afford to cover their heads. It will create stress.

Domestic violence included emotional, verbal, financial, psychological and physical abuse, intimidating and threatening behaviors were common and often underreported.

Ingrained psychological violence was something that resonated Jessie … and physical violence

The first time her partner met her partner's fist, it was in Queenstown when they had gone out with friends.

He was angry because his friends had spoken to him

were in the back of his friend's car and he was yelling at me. He grabbed my throat and slammed me against the side of the car. "

The model was the same: the abuse would happen, and then the excuses.

" When I met him, he was pretty exciting. He played rugby, was fit and beautiful. But he also had this way of talking about him where he always talked about his bad childhood, saying that he needed help. I really wanted to help this guy get better.

"I did not realize at the time that there was a major manipulation, even small subtle things, it made me feel uncomfortable, the clothes I wore […] He got angry, I started to question my own behavior, which got worse. "

After several strikes, court appearances and arrests, Jessie, pregnant with her third child, decided that it was sufficient, 19659007] She was referred to Jigsaw and participated in a program "Moving Beyond Violence."

"It became a question of setting limits and not to worry about letting others know that I have them, that's how I live my life now, I'm confident in myself that it's not acceptable. idea, but these Jigsaw ladies have changed my life.

Dr. Ang Jury, Executive Director of Women's Refuge, said that the analysis of social services was long overdue

. "

" It's a good start, but after that, the government has to find the money to make it happen.

More and more populated cities "If you look at the number of shelters in the country, there are 40 shelters – four in Christchurch, a dozen in Auckland and the rest are scattered it's not difficult to see places where is missing at all. "

– Stuff