Thirty years ago, it was an everyday experience to see New Zealanders smoke in meetings, restaurants and even on public transport. Today, such activities are socially unacceptable and often outright illegal. Part of it was due to a change of the law but there has also been a change in social attitudes. Could New Zealanders’ attitude to violent behaviour also change?

Violent crime, violence against women, and child abuse are widespread. In the year to June 2011, there were about 48,000 violent crimes or 108 per 10,000 people. A quarter to one-third of women will experience partner or sexual violence during their lifetime. Child Youth and Family found around 22,000 cases of abuse and neglect for children and youth in 2010–11. A 2003 UNICEF report ranked New Zealand’s death rate from maltreatment of under-15s as the fifth highest of 26 OECD countries, with the largest proportion of deaths for babies under the age of one.

NGOs and government have focused efforts on responding to the effects of violence, but what actions are being taken to change attitudes?

In the last five years, campaigns to openly discuss violence have had some effect. A 2010 survey by the Centre for Social Research and Evaluation found most people believe that violence ‘Is not OK’ and everyone should take responsibility to protect each other. But some still believe violence can be excused and justified, or how parents, children or couples act within their own home is a private matter. It is people not acting or being silent that keeps crimes and offenders hidden.

Last week, coroner Gary Evans blamed the 2006 deaths of Chris and Cru Kahui on their father. But like too many other child assaults, no one was convicted. The coroner has called for improved child protection measures, including health professionals being required to report physical abuse to other bodies and teams established in each district health board to work with other agencies.

In August 2011, a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen child protection was signed between the Ministry of Social Development, police and district health board representatives. The memorandum set out meeting and referral processes but seems to fall well short of a comprehensive child-centred approach to identifying at-risk families and children.

Government’s Better Public Services Targets includes reducing the number of children experiencing physical abuse by 5% and reducing violent crime by 20% by 2017. To achieve these targets, we will need to change legislation, organisations and attitudes. Harder still will be to eliminate Kiwis’ silent tolerance of violent behaviour.