Here are some official stats about violence in this country.

When it comes to sexual violence convictions, Ministry of Justice data shows that 46 percent of offenders are European New Zealanders and 29 percent are Maori.

Numbers that were probably ringing around in Marama Davidson’s head when she said after the transgender protest in Auckland on Saturday that white men are the violent ones.

That’s me paraphrasing. What she actually said was: “I know who causes violence in the world - it is white cis men. That is white cis men who cause violence in the world."

A cis man being someone who was born a male. As opposed to someone who has identified as a man later in life. So what she was saying at the weekend was that biological men are the bad guys. Or, more specifically, white biological men.

Come yesterday, though, and with the alarm bells going off in the Prime Minister’s Office, the Green Party Co-Leader and the Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence was clarifying things.

And she claimed that what she was actually saying was that most violence towards women is dished out by men.

Whether or not that should be considered enough for her to keep her job, I’ll get to shortly.

But while we’re reeling off statistics, here’s another one. Again, according to Ministry of Justice data, when it comes to family violence convictions 56 percent are Māori and 35 percent European.

So that doesn’t stack up with the white guys are the bad guys statement she made on Saturday.

The sexual violence stats do. The family violence stats don’t. Not that I think Chris Hipkins was splitting hairs over stats when he told his staff to get on the blower to the Greens and tell them Marama needed to pull her head in.

Or, as the PM put it, to do something about her inappropriate behaviour. And so what she did was put out the statement clarifying things.

She said when she made the comments at the weekend she was still in shock after being hit by a motorbike. Which you can understand. Anyone would.

And, it was at that point, when the Counterspin conspiracy theory crew turned up with their camera and started talking to her about how the protest had panned out.

Marama Davidson said to the film crew, as she was walking down the street, that as the government minister responsible for reducing violence she knows who causes violence in the world - and it’s the white cis men who cause the violence. That’s what she said.

Yesterday, though, she said: "Violence is unacceptable in any community and as the Minister responsible for Aotearoa's first ever plan to eliminate family violence and sexual violence, I am committed to an Aotearoa where all people are safe and can live peaceful lives."

And she went on to say: "Women are overwhelmingly more likely to be victims of family violence and sexual violence at the hands of men.”

Now, at this point, I’m going to be generous to Marama. Because I suspect that she was speaking to Counterspin Media’s audience when she said what she said on Saturday. Because Counterspin is the far-right media that the conspiracy theorists and the white supremacy guys flock to.

So she was talking directly to their audience.

Problem is, as soon as her comments went wider, every white guy under the sun was taking offence. And the politicians jumped on board. Which is why Act’s David Seymour was on Newstalk ZB this morning saying she can’t stay on as a Minister. It’s also why the Prime Minister came out and said her comments weren’t appropriate and why she put out the clarification yesterday.

But this is where my generosity ends.

Because just by making those comments on Saturday, I think it’s going to be very difficult for Marama Davidson to convince people that she doesn’t have an unconscious bias when it comes to ethnicity and violence.

I don’t necessarily think she does. But if it even looks like she does, then that will be enough for a whole lot of people to believe she does. And, for me, that makes it impossible for her to be a credible Minister responsible for doing something about all violence - not just violence committed by white men.

And, for that reason, I think the Prime Minister is dreaming if he thinks she’s done enough to warrant staying on as Minister.

Here are some official stats about violence in this country.
When it comes to sexual violence convictions, Ministry of Justice data shows that 46 percent of offenders are European New Zealanders and 29 percent are Maori.
Numbers that were probably ringing around in Marama Davidson’s head when she said after the transgender protest in Auckland on Saturday that white men are the violent ones.
That’s me paraphrasing. What she actually said was: “I know who causes violence in the world - it is white cis men. That is white cis men who cause violence in the world."
A cis man being someone who was born a male. As opposed to someone who has identified as a man later in life. So what she was saying at the weekend was that biological men are the bad guys. Or, more specifically, white biological men.
Come yesterday, though, and with the alarm bells going off in the Prime Minister’s Office, the Green Party Co-Leader and the Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence was clarifying things.
And she claimed that what she was actually saying was that most violence towards women is dished out by men.
Whether or not that should be considered enough for her to keep her job, I’ll get to shortly.
But while we’re reeling off statistics, here’s another one. Again, according to Ministry of Justice data, when it comes to family violence convictions 56 percent are Māori and 35 percent European.
So that doesn’t stack up with the white guys are the bad guys statement she made on Saturday.
The sexual violence stats do. The family violence stats don’t. Not that I think Chris Hipkins was splitting hairs over stats when he told his staff to get on the blower to the Greens and tell them Marama needed to pull her head in.
Or, as the PM put it, to do something about her inappropriate behaviour. And so what she did was put out the statement clarifying things.
She said when she made the comments at the weekend she was still in shock after being hit by a motorbike. Which you can understand. Anyone would.
And, it was at that point, when the Counterspin conspiracy theory crew turned up with their camera and started talking to her about how the protest had panned out.
Marama Davidson said to the film crew, as she was walking down the street, that as the government minister responsible for reducing violence she knows who causes violence in the world - and it’s the white cis men who cause the violence. That’s what she said.
Yesterday, though, she said: "Violence is unacceptable in any community and as the Minister responsible for Aotearoa's first ever plan to eliminate family violence and sexual violence, I am committed to an Aotearoa where all people are safe and can live peaceful lives."
And she went on to say: "Women are overwhelmingly more likely to be victims of family violence and sexual violence at the hands of men.”
Now, at this point, I’m going to be generous to Marama. Because I suspect that she was speaking to Counterspin Media’s audience when she said what she said on Saturday. Because Counterspin is the far-right media that the conspiracy theorists and the white supremacy guys flock to.
So she was talking directly to their audience.
Problem is, as soon as her comments went wider, every white guy under the sun was taking offence. And the politicians jumped on board. Which is why Act’s David Seymour was on Newstalk ZB this morning saying she can’t stay on as a Minister. It’s also why the Prime Minister came out and said her comments weren’t appropriate and why she put out the clarification yesterday.
But this is where my generosity ends.
Because just by making those comments on Saturday, I think it’s going to be very difficult for Marama Davidson to convince people that she doesn’t have an unconscious bias when it comes to ethnicity and violence.
I don’t necessarily think she does. But if it even looks like she does, then that will be enough for a whole lot of people to believe she does. And, for me, that makes it impossible for her to be a credible Minister responsible for doing something about all violence - not just violence committed by white men.
And, for that reason, I think the Prime Minister is dreaming if he thinks she’s done enough to warrant staying on as Minister.

Every weekday join the new voice of local issues on Canterbury Mornings with John MacDonald, 9am-12pm weekdays.

It’s all about the conversation with John, as he gets right into the things that get our community talking.

If it’s news you’re after, backing John is the combined power of the Newstalk ZB and New Zealand Herald news teams. Meaning when it comes to covering breaking news – you will not beat local radio.

With two decades experience in communications based in Christchurch, John also has a deep understanding of and connections to the Christchurch and Canterbury commercial sector.

Newstalk ZB Canterbury Mornings 9am-12pm with John MacDonald on 100.1FM and iHeartRadio.

Every weekday join the new voice of local issues on Canterbury Mornings with John MacDonald, 9am-12pm weekdays. It’s all about the conversation with John, as he gets right into the things that get our community talking. If it’s news you’re after, backing John is the combined power of the Newstalk ZB and New Zealand Herald news teams. Meaning when it comes to covering breaking news – you will not beat local radio. With two decades experience in communications based in Christchurch, John also has a deep understanding of and connections to the Christchurch and Canterbury commercial sector. Newstalk ZB Canterbury Mornings 9am-12pm with John MacDonald on 100.1FM and iHeartRadio.

Every weekday join the new voice of local issues on Canterbury Mornings with John MacDonald, 9am-12pm weekdays.

It’s all about the conversation with John, as he gets right into the things that get our community talking.

Advertisement