The report said in some cases, the patients did not think what happened to them was sexual assault. The committee said it had been told there can be a "fine line" between rough sex and sexual assault and that some young people were presenting to accident and emergency departments rather than specialist sexual assault services. New sexual violence capability frameworks are expected to be published next year to help health professionals recognise more nuanced signs of sexual assault. Sexual health educators warn that violent pornography is normalising rough and dangerous sex among young people. Sexual Wellbeing Aotearoa chief executive Jackie Edmond said pornography often portrayed rough sex as normal.

Source: Otago Daily Times March 15, 2026 04:30 UTC