Abuse victim saved by Facebook post

A domestic violence victim whose partner allegedly took her phone on Sunday morning so she couldn't call police managed to raise the alarm via Facebook.

Police are praising the woman's Facebook friend for raising the alarm immediately and saving her from further abuse.

It was one of three incidents in as many days in the Mid North in which victims, or witnesses spoke up, leading to the arrests of three alleged offenders, days before tomorrow's sentencing of the Whangarei man who killed his partner, Patricia McGrath, earlier this year.

Senior Sergeant Ian Row said the latest incident was about 10.30am on Sunday at an address in Kerikeri. The woman's 23-year-old partner allegedly struck her several times in the head, with an open palm and a closed fist, and choked her by placing his hands around her throat.

He then took her cell phone and told her he'd make her life a misery if she tried to contact the police.

The woman, unable to leave the house or make a phone call, managed to put a message on Facebook asking for help. A friend saw the message and called police.

The man was charged with three counts of assaulting a female and one of assault with intent to injure.

Senior Sergeant Row, who is relieving in Kerikeri, said abuse took many forms, none of which were acceptable. As well as the physical abuse alleged in Sunday's incident, the offender had tried to control his partner by taking away her phone and limiting access to friends and family.

"I can't commend enough the person who acted on the Facebook message," he said.

"She's acted and we've been able to stop the abuse. Evil will only prosper when good people fail to act."

White Ribbon Ride founder Phil Paikea, a family violence intervention advocate for the Bream Bay Community Support Trust, said people were getting better at reporting domestic violence, thanks in part to the It's Not OK campaign.

"It's good to see people are reporting and the victims are not sticking around. The campaign has a lot to do with it. People are saying enough is enough," he said.

Two more arrests were made in the Mid North after people spoke out about witnessing, or being subjected to, family violence.

About 12.30pm on Friday, police were called by staff of a Waipapa store who said they saw a man grab his partner around the waist and punch her in the stomach. A 32-year-old Mangonui man was arrested shortly afterward.

On Saturday afternoon, police were called to Matauri Bay by a 14-year-old who fled his home after an alleged bashing from his father.

Senior Sergeant Row said the 37-year-old became angry with the boy, kneeing him in the head, throwing him to the ground and kicking him as he lay on the floor.

The boy managed to escape and call police.

The man was already on electronic bail and facing a charge of assaulting his partner with intent to injure. He was held in custody during the weekend for an appearance in the Kaikohe District Court on a new charge of assault with intent to injure.

In the past year, Northland has seen several high-profile family violence incidents resulting in death. At least six are before the courts, or under police investigation.

Phillip Mahanga is due to be sentenced in Whangarei tomorrow for the manslaughter of his partner, Patricia McGrath, a 34-year-old mother of two who died on January 8.

Almost half New Zealand"s homicides are related to family violence. On average 14 women, 10 children and six men are killed by a family member annually.