HealthInfo Canterbury
Child abuse & neglect
Important
If you or a child are in immediate danger, phone the police on 111 at any time, night or day.
If you believe a child is being abused or neglected, phone Oranga Tamariki – Ministry for Children on 0508-FAMILY (0508‑326‑459). This phone number is staffed 24 hours, every day, by social workers.
If you or your children are affected by family violence, call the Family Violence Information Line on 0800‑456‑450. It is available from 9 am to 11 pm seven days a week.
Parent support
If you think you might hurt your child, it's important that you seek help. Read these strategies for staying calm with kids and what to do if you think you can't cope and might hurt your child.
HealthInfo recommends the following pages
- Child Matters – Educating to prevent child abuse
Information about child abuse, including what it is, signs and risk factors, myths and realities, and what you can do about it.
- KidsHealth
- Child abuse: worried about a child?
Find out what to do if you are worried about a child, and what services are available.
- Child abuse: Information and support
This page lists organisations that can help in cases of child abuse, with descriptions of the support and resources they offer and contact details.
- Child abuse: worried about a child?
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed September 2019.
Review key: HISAC-14501
