Women's self-defence funding cut 'dangerous'

The Government's plan to scrap funding for a women's self-defence programme is a dangerous move, says an advocacy group.

"At a time in New Zealand history when girls and women are being asked to consider themselves equal, I wonder why the basic right to be safe is being taken away from us?" Coalition for the Safety of Women and Children spokeswoman Deborah Mackenzie said.

Funding for the Women's Self-Defence Network - Wahine Toa - is due to be scrapped in late June.

"We feel it is a dangerous move," Ms Mackenzie told NZPA.

Wahine Toa was a network of trained and accredited female self-defence teachers who worked across New Zealand teaching women strategies and skills to protect themselves from violence and abuse, particularly sexual violence.

Sexual violence against women and girls was a significant problem in New Zealand, she said.

"All of us working in the area of family and sexual violence know that prevention is the key to turning this social issue around. It appears to us that this government is not committed to prevention."

The coalition failed to see the logic in cutting funding as self-defence was a sensible, practical and cost-effective prevention strategy.

"Hearing about this cut comes close on the heels of the devastating announcement of cuts two weeks ago to other family violence prevention funding," she said.

- NZPA