Support for you or someone else
Support services are available 24/7. You can speak with a family violence specialist about your next steps, or understanding whether what you or someone else is experiencing is family violence. Services are free and the helpline and chat are available 24/7.
Police
You can ring the police, even if you can’t talk.
You can ring 111 if you or someone you know is in immediate danger. If you can’t talk, push 55 to signal that you want the police.
If you are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech difficulties, you can text the police on 111 – but you need to have registered first.
If you would like to contact the police about a person abusing you but not urgently you can call 105 or visit your local police station. This link will take you to an external website An officer will talk to you about all the options available to you.
If you are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech difficulties and you’d like a qualified NZSL Interpreter to be present, the officer is required to make arrangements to provide one. Or, in non-urgent situations, you can also call the police using NZ Relay. The NZ Relay video interpreting service is available Monday to Friday 8am-8pm; Saturday 10am-5pm; Sunday 12pm-5pm. Text relay is available at all times.
If for whatever reason you do not want to speak to the police directly, contact the organisation Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or use the secure online form. It's completely anonymous, no one will know it was you who passed on the information.
Are You OK Helpline
Location: All across Aotearoa, New Zealand
For advice, support, and to find a support service in your area, you can call for family violence support anytime on 0800 456 450 to speak with a trained counsellor.
If you feel at risk of using violence and are worried your behaviour is hurting or scaring others, there's help to make a change. You can get advice, support and find a support service in your area by either calling the 24/7 support line on 0800 456 450, or going to the 'Change is Possible' website.
Women's Refuge
Location: All across Aotearoa, New Zealand
Crisis line 24/7 – 0800 REFUGE or 0800 733 843
New Zealand’s largest nation-wide organisation that supports and helps women and children experiencing family violence.
What to expect:
Women’s Refuge gives 24/7 access to safe houses in all regions. Find the refuge closest to you: Find your local Refuge | Women’s Refuge Their support is confidential and non-judgmental.
They’ll help you navigate the support services you might want or need such as: Police, Oranga Tamariki, legal system, courts, Work and Income, housing, doctors, immigration, and schools. They’ll also help connect you with any additional support services you need.
Women’s Refuge workers are trained and have an in-depth understanding of how to support people in abusive situations and also support women in isolated regions. They make home and community visits. They have education and support groups for women and children about living free from violence.
Women’s Refuge gives information and presentations to community groups, schools and workplaces.
VisAble - for disabled people
Location: All across Aotearoa, New Zealand
Phone – 0800 998 858
VisAble is a disabled person-led organisation based in Aotearoa, New Zealand.
What to expect:
VisAble equips organisations and individuals to make their services inclusive and accessible for disabled people impacted by violence. They provide:
- Safeguarding Adults Response: Guidance and coordination for multi-agency responses to protect Adults at Risk.
- Prevention and Response Support: Tailored advice, programmes, and services to identify and respond to violence, abuse, and neglect.
- Cultural and Inclusive Safety: Strategies to ensure culturally safe, whānau-centred responses.
Hohou te Rongo Kahukura - for takatāpui/rainbow communities
Location: All across Aotearoa, New Zealand
Hohou Te Rongo Kahukura website
What to expect:
Hohou Te Rongo Kahukura offer information and resources by and for Takatāpui and Rainbow communities, about family, partner and sexual violence, including safety planning, and tips and support for accessing services around the country. Their national sexual violence service offers free, confidential, mana-enhancing support and recovery services for Takatāpui and Rainbow survivors, partners and whānau.
Shakti
Locations: Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington, Christchurch
Crisis line, 24/7, multilingual – 0800 SHAKTI or 0800 742 584
What to expect:
Culturally safe, specialist, confidential support for women and their children of Asian, African, and Middle Eastern origins.
Refuges that offer culturally appropriate refuge or shelter for ethnic women wanting to escape family violence.
Shakti’s culturally appropriate crisis intervention and prevention services are safe and confidential services.
They help with legal support, and advocacy in housing and immigration and with ACC. Shakti offers therapy, counselling, and referral to health services.
Their self-empowerment and life skills programmes promote confidence and self-reliance.
Shama, Ethnic Women's Trust
Location: Waikato
Phone number: Monday to Friday 9:00am to 4:30pm (07) 843 3810
What to expect:
Shama is a community organisation that works with ethnic women and families to provide both a Waikato regional response for family violence and a national response for sexual violence which includes a crisis response service, long term therapeutic support and prevention work through community development.
Te Kupenga Whakaoti Mahi Patunga
National Network of Family Violence Services
Te Kupenga Whakaoti Mahi Patunga website
Here you can search a wide range of specialist family violence services, particularly for those who use, have used or are at risk of using family violence.
Listed organisations offer services like refuges, education programmes, support, counselling, advocacy, and abuse prevention services.
Service Finder
Need help, but aren't sure where to find it? Use the Service Finder tool to find the right service for you.