Domestic and family violence

How these services can help

Family violence support services can:

• provide emotional support
• help you understand your situation
• provide information, options and advocacy
• help connect you to local services you might need — including Kaupapa Māori services, and services for people from other cultures and ethnicities.

They can help you explore options such as how to:

• apply for a protection order or other legal orders
• withdraw early from a rental contract due to family violence
• request family violence leave or flexible working from your employer
• seek emergency and other benefits from Work and Income.

Phone and online support

Phone services are free to call within NZ and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

If you need help with assistive technology for any of the phone services see NZ Relay service.

Women’s Refuge

• Women’s Refuge Crisis line — 0800 733 843
• Private webchat — select the Shielded link at the bottom of this website. Select ‘Enter’, then ‘Getting Help’, then ‘Live Chat’. The Shielded Site will not appear in your browser history.

Shine

• Shine Helpline — 0508 744 633
• Webchat — select the ‘Webchat’ button at the bottom right of the Shine website.

Are You OK

• Are you OK Helpline — 0800 456 450
• Webchat — select ‘Get help now’, then ‘Open Chat Now’ at the bottom right of the Are You OK website.

Shakti — multi-lingual support

• Shakti multi-lingual crisis-line — 0800 742 584
• Shakti website

Safe to talk — sexual harm

• Safe to talk sexual harm helpline — 0800 044 334
• Webchat — select ‘Chat to someone’ at the bottom right of the Safe to talk website.

Good Shepherd — economic harm

Support for financial problems caused by family violence.

• Economic harm support form — Good Shepherd
• Good Shepherd website

Local in-person support services

The following websites can help you find free local or in-person support.

• Find your local refuge — Women’s Refuge
• Service finder — Are You OK
• Family Violence — Family Services Directory
• Safety programmes available — Ministry of Justice

Local family violence services may be able to:

• help with meeting basic needs
• support your safety and wellbeing
• advocate for what you need from other agencies
• provide temporary safe housing
• assist you to relocate and/or find safe, suitable permanent accommodation
• provide services for children who’ve experienced family violence.

Other options to manage the effects of family violence

Protection, Property and Furniture Orders

You can apply to the Family Court for a Protection Order. At the same time, you can apply for:

• a Property Order — to stay in the house where you live and order the other person to leave and/or
• a Furniture Order — to keep named items of furniture in your possession.

Apply for a Protection, Property, or Furniture Order — Ministry of Justice

Early withdrawal from tenancy for family violence

If you or a dependant in your care experience family violence during a tenancy, you can end the tenancy with only 48 hours’ notice. You must provide evidence that meets the requirements.

Withdrawal from a tenancy following family violence — Tenancy Services

Harmful digital communications order

This order can be for a number of actions in response to online abuse, including orders to:

• take down material
• stop posting or publishing material online
• publish a correction or apology
• release the source of an anonymous communication.

Netsafe must investigate your complaint before you can apply for an order.

Applying for a Harmful Digital Communications order — Ministry of Justice

Stalking is now a crime

If someone stalks a person twice within 2 years they can be arrested and charged. Police can issue a warning after just one stalking incident.

Stalking includes any behaviour that would make most people feel afraid or upset.

Stalking and harassment — New Zealand Police

If you’re worried about your own behaviour

If you have used or feel at risk of using family violence, contact the support services on this page.

The following online resources may also be of help.

Help for people worried they are frightening or hurting others — Are You OK

Help services — Change is possible