Family and sexual violence prevention

Your safety

It’s okay to ask for help if you or someone else is in danger. If you think someone could be harmed or may harm themselves, call the police, even if you’re not sure.

Keep an eye out for the safety and wellbeing of children and vulnerable adults. Talk to friends, whānau and neighbours if you need support, or to see if they need help. Use social media to keep in touch and check in with each other.

Helplines are available

If you are a victim of family violence, sexual violence, or if there is someone that makes you fearful, threatens or harasses you, seek help as soon as possible. You have the right to be safe.

The following helplines are available for people needing help:

Finding a local support service

• Family Services 211 Helpline (0800 211 211) — for help finding, and direct transfer to, community-based health and social support services in your area
  Visit the Family Services Directory online (external link)

• Find your local Women’s Refuge by calling 0800 743 843 (0800 REFUGE) to be linked up with an advocate in your area
  The Women’s Refuge website hosts a list of refuges near you (external link)

• Te Ohaakii a Hine National Network Ending Sexual Violence Together
  Find out where sexual violence support services are in your area (external link)

• Safe to Talk — sexual harm helpline. Call 0800 044 334, text 4334 or email support@safetotalk.nz
  Chat to counsellors online or find out more at Safe to Talk (external link)

• Victim Support — call 0800 842 846. 24-hour service for all victims of serious crime
  Visit the Victim Support website to find out how they can support victims (external link)

• Victim Information Line/Victim Centre — call 0800 650 654 or email victimscentre@justice.govt.nz
  Find out more about the Victim Information Line and Victim Centre (external link)

Family violence services

• Women’s Refuge — call 0800 733 843 (0800 REFUGE) for 24-hour service advocacy and accommodation for women and their children experiencing family violence
  Find out more about Women’s Refuge (external link)

• Shine domestic abuse services — free call 0508 744 633 (9am to 11pm) if you’re experiencing domestic abuse, or want to know how to help someone else
  Find out more about Shine’s helpline (external link)

• Family violence information line — call 0800 456 450 to find out about local services or how to help someone near you
  Find out more about family violence and getting help (external link)

• Elder Abuse Helpline — call 0800 32 668 65 (0800 EA NOT OK). 24-hour service answered by registered nurses who can connect to local elder abuse specialist providers
  Here are signs of elder abuse or neglect to look out for (external link)

• Shakti New Zealand — call 0800 742 584 for culturally competent support services for women, children and families of Asian, African and Middle Eastern origin who have experienced domestic violence
  Find out more about Shakti New Zealand (external link)

Sexual violence services

• Better Blokes — call 09 378 8812 or email manager@betterblokes.org.nz for free peer support for male survivors of sexual abuse
  Find out more about Better Blokes (external link)

• Safe to Talk — sexual harm helpline. Call 0800 044 334, text 4334 or email support@safetotalk.nz
  Chat to counsellors online or find out more at Safe to Talk (external link)

• Male Survivors Aotearoa New Zealand — call 0800 044 344. Offers one-to-one, peer and support groups for male survivors of sexual abuse and their significant others
  Find out more about Male Survivors Aotearoa New Zealand (external link)

• Tu Wahine Trust — call 09 838 8700 for kaupapa Māori counselling, therapy and support for survivors of sexual harm (mahi tukino) and violence within whānau
  Find out more about Tu Wahine Trust (external link)

• ACC Sensitive Claims Unit — call 0800 735 566 for access to services related to sexual abuse or sexual assault
  Find out more about accessing services via the ACC Sensitive Claims Unit (external link)

Services for those who want help to stop harming

• Hey Bro helpline — call 0800 HeyBro (0800 439 276). 24/7 help for men who feel they’re going to harm a loved one or whānau member 
  Find out more about Hey Bro (external link)

• Safe to Talk — sexual harm helpline. Call 0800 044 334, text 4334 or email support@safetotalk.nz
  Chat to counsellors online or find out more at Safe to Talk (external link)

• Korowai Tumanako — text or call 022 474 7044 for a kaupapa Māori service for those with concerning or harmful sexual behaviour
  Find out more about Korowai Tumanako (external link)

• Stop — support for concerning or harmful sexual behaviour
  Find out more about Stop (external link)

• Need to Talk? 1737 — free call or text 1737 any time for support from a trained counsellor
  Find out more about Need to Talk? 1737 (external link)

Youth services

• Youthline — call 0800 376 633, free text 234 or email talk@youthline.co.nz
  Chat online or find out more at Youthline (external link)

• What's Up? — call 0800 942 8787 - a safe place for tamariki and rangatahi to talk
  Find out more about What's Up? (external link)

• Skylight — call 0800 299 100 helping children, young people and their families and whānau through tough times of change, loss, trauma and grief
  Find out more about Skylight (external link)

• Oranga Tamariki — call 0508 325 459 (0508 FAMILY) or email contact@ot.govt.nz for concerns about children and young people
  Find out more about getting in touch with Oranga Tamariki (external link)

Support for Rainbow community / LGBTQI+

• OUTline NZ — call 0800 688 5463 for confidential telephone support for sexuality or gender identity issues
  Find out more about OUTline (external link)