Women feel unsafe in New Zealand – report

Many women are fearful about the crime culture in New Zealand, are tired of sex, and are resorting to desperate measures to succeed in life.

These are just some of the findings of the 2012 NEXT Report, to be published in the next month’s issue of the NEXT magazine.

The Nielsen survey of 1000 Kiwi women over 15 years of age provides for some concerning findings:

• Only 5% of Kiwi women believe equality is a complete reality in New Zealand in 2012.
• One in 20 working women are taking illegal drugs just to get through the day.
• 37% of Kiwi women who are in a relationship are too tired to have sex.
• 61% of the female population feel the crime rate is out of control.
• 74% of New Zealand’s women are positive about their overall quality of life.

Minister of Women’s Affairs Jo Goodhew admits the survey’s findings show there is a need for action in the realm of gender equality. “I know there is still space for improvement,” she says in the NEXT Report. “We do well in New Zealand but we’ve still got a long way to go.”

The minister is “horrified” so many Kiwi women are resorting to drugs just to cope, but Paul Rout, CEO of the Alcohol Drug Association of New Zealand, is not surprised. In the NEXT Report he calls for employers to address the issue. “They should offer assistance with treatment and support rather than just taking a disciplinary approach,” he says.

While the report indicates a high level of contentment between couples in relationships, it seems many are too exhausted for intimacy. Cary Hayward, National Practice Manager of Relationship Services, suggests this is partly down to child rearing. “When people have children, both sexual satisfaction and relationship satisfaction go down,” he says in the NEXT Report.

Despite official statistics revealing crime rates in New Zealand hit a record low at the end of 2011, NEXT magazine’s research shows widespread fear among the female population about the crime rate. It’s an issue Garth McVicar of the Sensible Sentencing Trust wants to see addressed. “I think we’re justified in being very concerned about the long-term direction of our country and the safety of the next generation,” he says.

However, the survey shows there is plenty of optimism among the nation’s women, with many feeling positive both about their current situation and the future.

NEXT editor Sarah Henry feels the report has raised some crucial issues for women, and believes it provides a fascinating insight into just how complex life is for New Zealand’s female population in 2012. “The ‘girls can do anything’ mantra is fast becoming a case of women can do everything,” Henry says. “However, despite all this pressure we’re determined to achieve success and balance in our lives.”