HealthInfo West Coast-Te Tai Poutini
Family harm
Family harm affects many people’s lives. It includes family violence, domestic violence, intimate partner violence, child abuse and neglect and elder abuse.
When a family member is violent towards you, they can be violent in different ways. The violence might be physical, sexual, emotional or psychological.
If you're experiencing violence in your home, it can affect every aspect of your life. It can cause physical injuries and affect your mental wellbeing. You may feel scared and alone.
Abuse is never OK and neither is feeling scared in your own home. If you're feeling scared or being abused, there are many people available to help you.
The first thing to do is to tell someone. This can be hard. Sometimes it’s easier to tell someone you don’t know. You could tell a friend, health professional, the police or a support agency.
The government has introduced new employment rights for people who have experienced family violence.
Important
Phone 111 for the police if you're in immediate danger. Or see the list of support lines below for other local organisations that can help.
The following links offer help and resources for people who are affected by family violence, people whose violent behaviour is affecting others and people who are worried about friends and family.
Support for everyone
- It's not OK – 0800-456-450 – family violence information line available from 9 am to 11 pm daily
Advice and information for anyone experiencing or using family violence. You can also get advice if you're concerned for someone else.
- Victim Support – 0800-VICTIM (0800-842-846) – crisis line available 24 hours a day
Information for anyone experiencing family harm.
Support for women
- Shakti Ethnic Women's Support Group – 0800-SHAKTI (0800-742-584) – crisis line available 24 hours a day
Shakti provides culturally specialist, confidential support services to women and their children of Asian, African and Middle Eastern origin. For non-urgent issues, phone (03) 389-2028 or email sewsg@shakti.org.nz.
- West Coast Women's Refuge – 0800-208‑339 or (03) 789‑8025
Supporting families to live violence free. For non-urgent issues, email westcoast-refuge@xtra.co.nz.
Support for the rainbow community
- Hohou Te Rongo Kahukura
An organisation dedicated to building rainbow communities in Aotearoa New Zealand free of partner and sexual violence.
Women's Refuge Shielded Site project
The Women's Refuge has created a tool for victims of abuse to ask for help. You can use the tool without fear of it showing up in your browser’s history or an abusive partner ever seeing it.
The Women's Refuge Shielded Site icon is shown here. You'll see it on many New Zealand websites including this one. On HealthInfo, it's at the bottom of every page at the right-hand side of the footer.
When you see the icon, you can click it to bring up a shielded portal, through which you can contact the Women's Refuge, find out how to make a plan to safely get out of a dangerous situation, learn how to stay safe online and get answers to questions about what comes next.
For more information about the Shielded Site project, follow this link. Warning, this link will appear in your browser's history.
HealthInfo recommends the following pages
- New Zealand Police – Help for family violence
Information and help for people experiencing family violence. The NZ police are actively involved in reducing family violence and supporting people to become safe.
- Women's Refuge
Resources and information for people affected by family violence. You can also Find a local refuge.
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed September 2019. Last updated May 2021.
Review key: HIFAM-47976
