A mother of four children was killed in Queensland over the weekend by her long term partner, becoming the 59th woman killed by violence in 2023 in Australia.
New Zealand mother Siva Auvae was days away from her 32nd birthday before her life was cut short by her 32-year-old partner. She was killed on the second last day of the UN’s 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.
Emergency services were called to a street in the Moreton Bay suburb of Kallangur, just north of Brisbane, at about 7pm on Saturday night. According to reports, neighbours had seen Auvae screaming and running from her house down the street.
Police, paramedics and fire officers found her collapsed on the road, suffering from multiple stab wounds. Auvae died later on the scene.
Meanwhile, the home she had run from was set alight. Emergency services found the 32-year-old man in the house, suffering from severe burns.
He was arrested on the scene and taken to hospital for treatment. The man died overnight in hospital from his injuries.
Detective Inspector David Harbison believes the man set the house on fire “deliberately” following the incident, which authorities are still investigating.
“At this point, police do not believe there are any other persons unaccounted for or involved in this tragic incident,” Detective Inspector Harbison told reporters on Sunday.
“Detectives are appealing to anyone who may have seen anything in the area around the time of the incident, or may have relevant dashcam or CCTV footage that may assist, we ask those persons to come forward.”
Police said the couple had moved from NSW to their Queensland home in Kallangur just one week prior to the incident.
There were no children in the house and impacted by the incident on Saturday night, authorities confirmed. Auvae’s youngest of four children is less than 12 months old.
Tributes
Auvae was a much loved mother, daughter, sister, cousin and friend to many. Some have posted tributes on social media, honouring her life.
“I’ll look for you in the next life my stunning cousin,” one person wrote.
“You enriched all our lives with just your existence & I’ll never forget your beautiful qualities & nature. The love, care & protection you poured into your babies, we see cousin.
“Aroha mutunga kore, mō āke tonu atu (Love that never ends, forever).”
A friend of Auvae’s posted a link to a donation page on social media, appealing for donations to help the family bring her body back to New Zealand, so she can be laid to rest with her whānau (Maori family/community).
“I know it’s a close time to Christmas, but it’s also a time women are isolated by their partners from their family and silently abused in their own homes,” the friend wrote.
“I know there are real monsters in this world and I pray that God was with her and guiding her so that she wasn’t alone.”
Hine Kerrich, Auvae’s first cousin, created the donation page to help the family bring her home.
“Siva was a much loved Mum, daughter, sister and friend and her life was taken far too soon,” she wrote on the page.
A global movement that began in New Zealand, ‘She is not your rehab’, posted on social media about Auvae’s death and calling on men to do better.
“This cannot be our legacy. We must HEAL the mamae (pain) that runs deep in our communities,” the post read.
“We must support our brothers by calling them forward into a life FREE of violence. Your childhood trauma wasn’t your fault BUT YOUR HEALING NOW IS ABSOLUTELY YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.”
Domestic violence in Australia
Siva Auvae is the 59th woman killed in 2023 in Australia from violence, according to statistics from Destroy the Joint’s Counting Dead Women.
This equates to an average of more than one woman killed each week this year. There are still three weeks left of 2023.
The 32-year-old man killed his partner, Siva Auvae, on the penultimate day of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, a UN-led campaign.
The theme of this year’s 16 Days – which drew to a close on Sunday 10 December, Human Rights Day – was “UNITE! Invest to prevent violence against women and girls.”
Family and domestic violence is an epidemic gripping the nation and the globe. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIWH) estimates one in six women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence by a current or former partner since the age of 15.
If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic, family or sexual violence call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, chat online via 1800RESPECT.org.au or text 0458 737 732.
If you are concerned about your behaviour or use of violence, you can contact the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491 or visit www.ntv.org.au.
Feeling worried or no good? No shame, no judgement, safe place to yarn. Speak to a 13YARN Crisis Supporter, call 13 92 76. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
In an emergency, call 000.
PHOTO CREDIT: Facebook