We’re appalled to hear about the street assault by a stranger of 40 year immigrant Praveet Chahal in Papatoetoe, South Auckland on Thursday. Not only does her attack show that women aren’t safe on the streets, it also demonstrates people are inured to violence and believe male partners have a right to beat their women.

New Zealand’s reputation for having a culture of brutality is alive, well and punching above its weight.

Praveet Chahal was attacked by a bottle wielding crazy man during the late afternoon as she was out walking near her home. A report by the Sunday Star Times, showing her with a battered and badly bruised face, said

She left home about 5.20pm and was about five minutes into her walk when she heard a loud scream.

“I didn’t really pay much attention because it was broad daylight. There were noises everywhere you wouldn’t think much of it.

“The next thing, when I turned around I saw a man coming straight towards me with a bottle.”

I was screaming ‘help me, I don’t know this man’

Instead of coming to her aid bystanders did nothing, one even pushed her away and said he didn’t want to get involved.

Chahal suffered a broken nose, a fractured eye socket, extensive bruising and spent a night in hospital after the assault, which she says bystanders did nothing to prevent.

One even pushed her away, later telling her he did not help because he thought the man was her partner.

The report also said

She sought help from a couple who were washing their car in a nearby driveway.

“I was screaming ‘help me, help me. I don’t know this man’.

“The guy wouldn’t help – he kept saying to me, ‘don’t come here’. I still went because I needed help so I went behind him. He pushed me away and started running.

“I ran towards the woman as well but she was running away. [The attacker] kept hitting me and I fell on the ground. I was screaming, I was yelling for help. A lot of people gathered but they were all just standing there watching while this guy was hitting me and hitting me and hitting me, until the cops arrived.” … read the full story here

Her attacker was arrested and released on bail.

Our condolences go out to Praveet Chahal and wish her the best for a full recovery.

Whilst this attack was NOT a case of family violence people in the neighborhood turned away because they thought it was. To read more about Family Violence Statistics in New Zealand please visit http://www.areyouok.org.nz/files/statistics/ItsnotOK_recent_family_violence_stats.pdf

These types of attacks are not uncommon in New Zealand

For example, in December 2012 we wrote an article: ‘German Tourist Beaten as New Zealanders Stand and Watch’

German tourists Juliane Quanzt and Nina Pielstick have fallen victim to yet another vicious mugging in broad daylight in New Zealand, this time in the Auckland suburb of Papakura.

The story of the assault, plus the now obligatory PR statement published whenever foreign tourists become crime victims in New Zealand, can be read here.

Aside from the obvious violence involved what is shocking about this crime is the total disinterest shown by the public, despite the girls screams for help no-one had the courage to intervene in the beating…

And we’ve talked about little three year old Nia Glassie who was tortured and beaten to death whilst neighbours turned a deaf ear to her agony (“One of the hardest things to accept about Nia Glassie’s story is that neighbours heard screaming and crying but did nothing.“)

Where to seek help

If you are affected by the issues raised in this article we advise you to seek help. This is a good place to start http://www.areyouok.org.nz/friends_and_whanau.php.

If anyone else has some links they’d like to advertise please let us know and we’ll publicize them.

Related Articles about  Violence Against Women in NZ

Touristkilled.com: category New Zealand

TouristKilled.com: Compilation of beatings, muggings of foreigners in New Zealand

Violent NZ -Teenager abducted and gang raped in Waitara, Police shootings of crims – An eighteen year old woman has been abducted and subjected to a gang rape in the small Taranaki township of Waitara .Up to five men are thought to be involved the random attack, according to one report…

Violent New Zealand – Lifestyle Block Homicide North Of Auckland – New Zealand’s reputation as a safe place to live. especially for women, took another knock today when police announced they are treating the death of a young woman north of Auckland as a homicide. According to press reports the body of a woman was found at a lifestyle-block property on Rodeo Road in Redvale, Auckland, an area popular with farmers, stable owners and hobby farmers…

Napier Police Warn Parents About Sexual Predator After Third Incident in Three Months – Napier police are warning about the dangers of sexual predators after a 17 year old female was sexually assaulted by a 15 year old youth in Woodhouse Place, Pirimai, at 11.30am on 31 January 2013. It was the third such attack in the areas in as many months…

Eight Year Old Girl Raped At Oreti Beach –  3News.co.nz is one of many media outlets today carrying the story of an eight year old child who was raped at Oreti Beach, near Invercargill in Southland at 4pm yesterday (2 February 2013). Coming just over a year since the brutal rape of a five year old at a camp site in Turangi we are saddened to hear of another assault on a child in New Zealand in a location where children are usually thought to be safe. Parents must be asking themselves where is safe for their children these days?…

English Tourist Victim of Waiheke Island Rape –We regret to report yet another violent sexual offence against a tourist visiting New Zealand. A twenty nine year old British woman has been raped on Waiheke Island off the coast of Auckland.  Our condolences are extended to the woman at this difficult time. A police reports originally said a 17 year old youth from Auckland has been arrested for the attack. He has been charged with aggravated assault and sexual violation. The following day he was named as Cane Norton Kelland…

Youth Arrested For Ashburton Mum’s Murder -We were saddened to hear of the murder of young Ashburton mother Sina Solomona. Ms Solomona, age 22, was found in a pool of blood at her home in the quiet town  early last Saturday morning. Our thoughts and condolences are extended to her friends and family for their loss…

Young Females in Hawkes Bay Plagued by Sex Attacks – There have been three sex attacks in the last four months on young females in Hawkes Bay, some of them happened to girls as young as 11 years old. The latest attack was of a 16 year old on Saturday night when she was assaulted by a group of men whilst walking through a Flaxmere Park. News report of the incident avoided using the term “pack rape”,  using headlines such as “Girl 16 attacked in park.”…

17 Year Old Arrested For Mount Roskill Savage Rape – We’re relieved to hear that a suspect has been arrested in relation to the savage beating and rape of woman in Mount Roskill. The 27 year woman old was attacked as she walked home from work through the grounds of Mount Roskill Intermediate school on the afternoon of  17 January 2012 . Her husband went to look for her and found her semi-conscious and badly injured She was left traumatised by the attack and unable to speak, taking over a week to recover in hospital…

Another Street Attack In Wellington – Its been revealed that three days before Phillip Cottrell was attacked and killed in central Wellington a 23 year old woman was attacked in Newtown Avenue (below) just 4 kms away. She was walking along Newton Road at 9.30 pm on 7 December when she was attacked from behind and put in a headlock. She fought with her assailant and eventually managed to escape, seeking help from a passing motorist…

Murder Of British Woman Jacqueline Blackbourn, Trial Underway –  The trial of the man accused of the murder and rape of British immigrant, Jacqueline Blackbourn, got underway at Auckland Crown Court today. The man has already pleaded guilty to a charge of arson. The Crown said in its opening statement that Jacqueline had been raped, strangled and stabbed to death before being set alight in her Glenfield home. A knife had been plunged into her chest with such force that it when through her sternum. Siobhan Buckley told the court that Jacqueline’s boyfriend could not accept the fact that their two year relationship was over and was “relentless in his attempts” to get her back…

AOS Called Out To Great Barrier Kidnapping -As if by proof that no corner of New Zealand is untouched by violent crime, the Armed Offenders Squad was called out to Great Barrier Island after a man was attacked and a woman went missing. According to various reports the man was seriously assaulted with a weapon yesterday and its feared that the 19 year old woman may have been abducted by their attacker, neither of whom have been seen since…

Wanaka Nightclub Rape – Various media outlets are reporting this morning on the allegation that a serious sex assault  took place in the female toilets of a backpackers, the Mint Bar in Wanaka, in the early hours of the morning.

The woman, age 22, who is said to be a visitor to the town, may be an international student or tourist, although this has yet to be confirmed. Police say they want to speak to a young Caucasian male who was seen in the vicinity at the time…

English Tourist Mugged In Gisborne – The woman, who hasn’t been named, was due to leave Gisborne today but had to stay on to assist police with their investigation. The report didn’t say if a weapon was used. It’s appalling to hear that yet another tourist has been robbed in New Zealand. Foreign women in particular are often seen as wealthy, easy targets and there have been multiple incidents of them being deliberately targeted by thieves. The most heinous of which was the robbery that led to the murder of of Joanne Wang in front of her young son at a shopping centre. See posts tagged handbag snatches.

Another Missing Woman – Another young woman has gone missing in New Zealand, her disappearance is the latest in a number of similar disappearances. Carmen Thomas, 32, a mother to a five year old son, lived in Remuera. She was last seen in Auckland on 1 July 2010, her car was spotted in Hamilton a few days later and police towed it away on 13 July. Her personal belongings and cash were found in the vehicle and police say her mobile phone was used a few times up until last week when it stopped.

Last month Jiayi Li (also known as Kiko) also disappeared from Auckland. Her car was found in Hamilton 10 days later after police released a description of it to the public. Her body was found soon afterwards and police arrested two men for her murder.

In May the body of Marice McGregor was found after she disappeared whilst collecting pine cones in Lismore Forest. She’d  suffered head injuries and a man has been arrested in connection with her death.

As yet there is no news about the fate of another woman, Emma Campbell, who disappeared near Christchurch at the beginning of May.

In January Jun Nan Tang (aka Lucy Tang) went missing from her Henderson home in Auckland after she left for Hamilton to look for childcare work.

Last month Jiayi Li (also known as Kiko) also disappeared from Auckland. Her car was found in Hamilton 10 days later after police released a description of it to the public. Her body was found soon afterwards and police arrested two men for her murder.

In May the body of Marice McGregor was found after she disappeared whilst collecting pine cones in Lismore Forest. She’d  suffered head injuries and a man has been arrested in connection with her death.

More

NZ’s appalling record for domestic violence is shamed by an international human rights group

New Zealand has fifth highest murder rate in the OECD

Murdered woman’s British friends forced to busk until flights resume