5 minutes with: Nicola Woodward | Canterbury News | Local News in Canterbury

Since February 22 the Christchurch Women's Refuge has been busier than ever. She's only been in the job six weeks, but the refuge's new CEO has hit the ground running. Anna Turner talks to Nicola Woodward.

You just started at the job six weeks ago. How has it been?

People have been asking me how I'm settling in, but there's been no time to settle. We've been really busy, like every other community service in Canterbury. Family violence has been on the rise since the earthquakes.There's been a move in family violence from urban areas to the rural areas-in the rural areas we've seen an increase of 40 per cent.

Why does violence increase after a natural disaster?

Earthquakes don't cause violence, it's always a choice. But there are factors associated with the increase, like stress, anxiety and uncertainty. You've got families having to live together that don't usually, which increases stress. You've also got an increase in alcohol consumption across the city which is also a factor.

What sort of situations have you been dealing with?

Since June 13 there has been an increase of interest in the safe houses. After September and February I think there was a sense that the community wasn't any safer than it was at home. It was a case of the devil you know versus the devil you don't. I think June was the icing on the cake for many women and they made the decision to finally leave. We have had some women return to previous relationship where there was violence because their social circumstances changed, like losing their job because of the quake, and they've had to go back. We've been making contact with them and helping many to leave again.

It must be quite satisfying being able to help these people?

I was in the office yesterday and I heard children's laughter coming from the corridor and went out and saw them playing with toys. It made all the effort that I, and the team, put in to helping women and children worthwhile.

How has it been for the refuge since the earthquakes?

It's been a constant struggle for us. The real challenge has been keeping our services running through the earthquakes. Our old offices were above Whitcoulls in Cashel Mall and were destroyed in February's quake. We had to work out of a safe house, which was very difficult because those locations must be kept secret. We found a new lease just before February in Hereford St but that building went too.

Where are you based now?

We moved into our new Fitzgerald Ave premises on June 13. We'd literally just had our Maori blessing ceremony and then the aftershocks hit. I just thought 'Here we go again.' It was fine though. I think without the blessing ceremony we would've been much worse off!

How have you personally been affected?

I've been displaced since February; my partner and I are now living in a rental property in Riccarton. We live on the hills so we're one of many families faced with the prospect of a big boulder coming down the hill and rolling through the back door. We are seriously lucky we have no structural damage to our house.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

My partner, Grant, is a real fisherman and I learnt over the years to love the things your man loves. Now, I've really developed a passion for it myself. We have a bach down at the Hurunui River mouth which we go down to. We have a jet boat and I love taking it out on the river and just looking at how beautiful Canterbury is.

You're launching your annual appeal this week what are you doing for that?

We've got several events going on, and we'll be out collecting on July 22 and 23. We're hoping to raise about $20,000. People should donate because they care about family violence, they care about their neighbours and they care about their community.

Visit www.womensrefuge.co.nz for more information on their annual appeal.