Tell us your story

Personal Stories

Personal stories can give hope to victims of family violence and motivate perpetrators to get help to change. They can help friends and family understand how violence affects everyone in a family. Read stories people have sent in or tell us your story.

It’s Never Too Late to Make Changes

Kia Ora my name is Patumoana Jeremy Eparaima known to some as Patu and some as Jeremy so I answer to both....

Violence Stops Here!

I remember meeting Mum’s partner in 2004, let’s call him *Beau. Everything started off sweet for the first year, until he got into the drinking and going to the pub. Mum and Beau fought all the time over everything and anything....

Change is Possible

Recently I had one of the best days I have ever had since joining the Police....

Don’t Turn a Blind Eye

I am a midwife, and one story remains with me even though it's been years since it happened....

Leaving Sexual Abuse Behind

I was about five years old when my 13 year old half brother began to sexually abuse me and my older sister. I was nine and he had finished school and moved out of home before she was able to tell my parents what had been happening....

When you hurt, you hurt people, especially the people you love…

As a young Samoan boy I was always beaten and verbally abused and that’s where I think it started. Being abused and seeing it around me, I grew up thinking that was how you were supposed to do things....

A Child with No Voice

“I am not one to ask or say too much, instead I will wait for others to see I want to talk or start to talk softly until some one notices that I want to talk....

‘Once Were Warriors’ Role True to Life

When Ray Bishop landed a role in the film ‘Once Were Warriors’ he was acting out his own family’s story....