Family Harm
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please dial 1 1 1
If it is not safe for you to talk, stay silent, push 55 and you will be put through to police
What’s family violence?
Family violence (previously referred to as domestic violence) is hurting a family member or someone you're in a close personal relationship with. Family violence can be hurting someone physically. It can also be hurting someone emotionally, psychologically, financially and/or sexually. Family violence can happen in many kinds of relationships.
LEGAL
New Zealand Police
Find out how to get help for family violence (domestic violence) and learn about Protection Orders and Police Safety Orders.
A Police Safety Order (PSO) may be issued by Police when they attend a family violence incident. The PSO means the person being violent must leave the home temporarily, even if they own the property and live there. Police don’t need the consent of the victim to issue a PSO.
A Protection Order is an Order made by a court that stops the person who's been violent to you from continuing to hurt you.
A Property Order says who can live in a specific house or flat. A Furniture Order says who can keep the furniture including appliances, like a fridge and beds.
If you apply for a Protection Order, you can apply for a Property Order and Furniture Order at the same time.
Stop a Child Leaving New Zealand
It’s a crime if someone tries to take a child out of New Zealand if:
it goes against a Parenting Order
a case involving the child is about to go to court
another person is about to apply for a Court Order.
If you need help urgently, you can ask the Family Court to act immediately for most Court Orders. This is called a without notice application.
If you can’t afford a lawyer you might be able to get legal aid.
You can get free legal advice and assistance from:
Citizens Advice Bureaus - 0800 367 222
Youth Law - 0800 881 529
Electoral Commission - Unpublished Roll
If you’re concerned about your personal safety, or that of your family, you can apply to go on the confidential unpublished roll. Your enrolment details will be kept secure and not given to anyone.
SUPPORT
Crisis Line 0800 733 843
New Zealand’s largest nation-wide organisation that supports and helps women and children experiencing family violence.
Phone 0508 744 633 - free to call, 7 days a week, 9am to 11pm
If you are feeling trapped, if you’re being controlled, or physically or emotionally abused by a partner, ex-partner, family member, or someone close to you, we want you to have access to support, information, and advocacy through our Helpline.
You can also get support, information and advice from our Helpline if you’re worried about a friend, family member, child, neighbour, workmate, or anyone who might be experiencing domestic abuse.
Phone 0800 842 846 - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Victim Support provides a free nationwide service in New Zealand for people affected by family. We help our clients to find safety and healing.
Information about - understanding unsafe relationships • Support available • Supporting someone • Using website safely
Safer homes in New Zealand: a booklet that may be helpful if - A partner, ex-partner, family, whānau member or someone else close to you is controlling, threatening, hurting or harming you • You want to know if you’re experiencing domestic violence • You want to help someone who is being abused
Hohou Te Rongo Kahukura – Outing Violence
Dedicated to building Rainbow communities in Aotearoa New Zealand free of partner and sexual violence.
Resources for safety planning and help for survivors can be found on this website