Hopes Christchurch’s new stadium could play a part in preventing violence

The council-owned company that runs Christchurch’s new stadium believes it could play a role in preventing family violence.

Local support service Aviva says it sees a rise in harm around large gatherings like festivals and major sports games.

Venues Ōtautahi chief executive Caroline Harvie-Teare said, while it was not the stadium’s responsibility to fix a societal issue, it could use its platform to raise awareness.

Research by Melbourne’s La Trobe University in 2018 found reported incidents of gender-based violence in New South Wales rose by up to 40% on game nights.

Aviva’s client services manager for sexual violence services, Jo Bader, said it also saw an influx of referrals after most weekends, often linked to people being harmed while out socialising.

“It’s problematic when you get a big group of people together and then you throw things like alcohol or other drugs into the mix.

“Everyone has to be responsible for their own actions, but societally, if we have attitudes and values that underpin harmful behaviour that aren’t addressed, then that’s when we get problems.”

In Australia, actor Hugh Jackman, Family Court Chief Justice Will Alstergren and prominent sports people have fronted anti-violence videos that play at stadiums during AFL and State of Origin games.

The campaign has now reached more than two million people, a similar campaign has been considered in the UK, and Alstergren said Christchurch’s new stadium should consider something similar too.

He said the campaign wasn’t about scolding or blaming men but sending a message that could resonate with them for the rest of their lives.

“Imagine young boys and men sitting at that new stadium, with their fathers or uncles, and their sporting idol says: ‘Hey, family and domestic violence isn’t on.’

“If even one of those kids in the audience takes notes of it, they’ll think: ‘If my hero can say that, that’s the way I should feel.’

Harvie-Teare said she was interested in exploring a similar campaign locally.

“I’m really interested in how we can work with our venue hires to have that additional support, education and additional campaigning to try to help improve things for our city.”

Christchurch’s One New Zealand Stadium was officially opened by Prime Minister Chris Luxon last week and will host its first major event, Super Rugby’s Super Round, on Anzac weekend.

Rosie Leishman is a Christchurch-based reporter and multimedia journalist at Newstalk ZB.