Guidelines for the Victim Assistance Scheme

• Homicide Lump Sum Grant (up to $7,500) to help with the immediate costs following the death. This may contribute to supporting family or whānau to pay for the funeral. The value of the grant paid is based on when the homicide Close pop-up homicide When a person is killed by another person. View the full glossary occurred. One grant is payable for each deceased person.  
• Counselling support (up to 30 hours) for family, whānau, friends, or witnesses to the crime or discoverers.  
• Travel and accommodation support for up to six people (family, whānau, support people) to attend justice proceedings, like a court trial or sentencing Close pop-up sentencing This is when the Judge decides what happens to the offender Close pop-up offender Person convicted of a crime (before being found guilty, the person charged with the offence is called 'defendant'). View the full glossary if they've pleaded or been found guilty. View the full glossary . Manaaki Tāngata | Victim Support will make all travel bookings. 
• Court attendance allowance for up to five people (each person: $150 each day or $75 each half day) for family, whānau or support people who have lost earnings through attending court.  
• Crime scene funding (up to $2,000) where a victim/survivor cannot go home and is displaced due to a police cordon, and police have confirmed they are investigating a crime. The funding is to pay for costs such as emergency accommodation, replacing essential items the victim/survivor can’t get to (like medication and toiletries), pet boarding fees and professional cleaning. 

Victim Support needs police confirmation that a homicide Close pop-up homicide When a person is killed by another person. View the full glossary has taken place before these grants or funding can be paid.  

In some cases, the original homicide charge might change. The family or whānau of the deceased will generally still be eligible for VAS support, especially if they have already received the Homicide Lump Sum Grant, begun counselling or attended preliminary court hearings.  

• Death by Criminal Act Lump Sum Grant (up to $7,500) to help with some of the immediate costs following the death. This may support family or whānau to pay for the funeral. The value of the grant paid is based on when the death by criminal act occurred. One grant is payable for each deceased person.
• Counselling support (up to 30 hours) for family, whānau, friends, witnesses to the crime or discoverers.
• Travel and accommodation support for up to six people (family, whānau, support people) to attend justice proceedings, like a court trial or sentencing Close pop-up sentencing This is when the Judge decides what happens to the offender Close pop-up offender Person convicted of a crime (before being found guilty, the person charged with the offence is called 'defendant'). View the full glossary if they've pleaded or been found guilty. View the full glossary . Manaaki Tāngata | Victim Support will make all travel bookings.
• Court attendance allowance for up to five people (per person: $150 each day or $75 each half day) for family, whānau or support people who have lost earnings through attending court. 

For deaths that occurred from 1 July 2025 onward, grants can be paid once the Police confirm that an ‘investigation is underway’ and it is highly likely criminal charges for causing death will or have been laid.

For deaths before 1 July 2025, grants or funding can only be paid when charges have been laid. If charges cannot be laid, Police need to confirm it is highly likely they would have laid criminal charges for causing death (if the alleged offender Close pop-up offender Person convicted of a crime (before being found guilty, the person charged with the offence is called 'defendant'). View the full glossary is dead).  

• Discretionary funding (up to $2,500) to help with costs related to safety and immediate financial needs.  
  Applicants can claim for costs that include, for example: 
  - installing alarms and other safety features 
  - emergency costs, where the victim/survivor is not eligible for Crime Scene Funding (explained below) 
  - replacing items stolen, lost or damaged during the crime that are not covered by - insurance and where replacing the items is likely to assist with safety (for example, repairing locks or a broken window) 
  - overnight accommodation if the crime occurs in the victim’s/survivor’s home and the victim/survivor is not eligible for Crime Scene Funding  
  - car rental if the police need to hold the victim’s/survivor’s car  
  - income lost for time off work that is not covered by ACC  
  - costs of travelling to give statements or be interviewed by the Police or for medical appointments related to the assault or crime.
• Counselling support (up to 15 hours) for primary victims/survivors of serious crime Close pop-up serious crime A crime that resulted in serious injury or death or that led the victim to have ongoing fears for their safety or the safety of one or more of their immediate whānau (including a crime of a sexual nature or other sexual assault). View the full glossary that took place after 1 July 2023.  
• Travel and accommodation support for the primary victim/survivor and up to three people (family, whānau, support people) to attend justice proceedings, like a court trial or sentencing Close pop-up sentencing This is when the Judge decides what happens to the offender Close pop-up offender Person convicted of a crime (before being found guilty, the person charged with the offence is called 'defendant'). View the full glossary if they've pleaded or been found guilty. View the full glossary . Manaaki Tāngata | Victim Support will make all travel bookings.
• Court attendance allowance for the primary victim/survivor and up to three people (for each person: $150 each day or $75 each half day) for family, whānau or support people who have lost earnings through attending court.  
• Crime scene funding (up to $2,000) where a victim/survivor cannot go home and is displaced due to a police cordon in place and police have confirmed they are investigating a crime. The funding is to pay for costs such as emergency accommodation, replacing essential items the victim/survivor can’t get to (like medication and toiletries), pet boarding fees and professional cleaning. 

Police must confirm they have filed a serious crime Close pop-up serious crime A crime that resulted in serious injury or death or that led the victim to have ongoing fears for their safety or the safety of one or more of their immediate whānau (including a crime of a sexual nature or other sexual assault). View the full glossary charge or are investigating the issue as a serious crime.  

This funding should be claimed within six months of the date of the crime. 

• Discretionary grant (up to $1,000) to help with costs incurred when reporting it to the Police and the financial costs of dealing with the aftermath of the crime. For example, income lost due to taking time off work to give Police statements or for medical appointments.
  The value of the grant paid is based on when the crime occurred.
• Supplementary funding (up to $2,500) to help with additional costs related to safety and other financial needs that cannot be met by the Discretionary grant (this may be able to cover counselling). The value of the grant paid is based on when the crime occurred. The supplementary funding is not available where the crime occurred before 1 July 2023. 
  
  Applicants can claim for costs that include, for example: 
  - installing alarms and other safety features 
  - emergency costs, where the victim/survivor is not eligible for Crime Scene Funding (explained below) 
  - replacing items stolen, lost or damaged during the crime that are not covered by - insurance and where replacing the items is likely to assist with safety (for example, repairing locks or a broken window) 
  - overnight accommodation if the crime occurs in the victim’s/survivor’s home and the victim/survivor is not eligible for Crime Scene Funding  
  - car rental if the police need to hold the victim’s/survivor’s car  
  - income lost for time off work that is not covered by ACC  
  - costs of travelling to give statements to/be interviewed by the police or for medical appointments related to the assault.
• Counselling support (up to 10 hours) for victims/survivors of sexual violence that took place after 1 July 2023. This may be available if there are delays to receiving this support through ACC.
• Support for travel and accommodation for the victim/survivor and up to three people (family, whānau, support people) to attend justice proceedings, like a court trial or sentencing Close pop-up sentencing This is when the Judge decides what happens to the offender Close pop-up offender Person convicted of a crime (before being found guilty, the person charged with the offence is called 'defendant'). View the full glossary if they've pleaded or been found guilty. View the full glossary . Manaaki Tāngata | Victim Support will make all travel bookings.
• Court attendance allowance for the victim/survivor and up to three people (per person: $150 per day or $75 each half day) for family, whānau or support people who have lost earnings through attending court.  
• Crime scene funding (up to $2,000) where a victim/survivor cannot go home and is displaced due to a Police cordon, and Police have confirmed they are investigating. The grant is to pay for costs such as emergency accommodation, replacing essential items the victim/survivor can’t get to (like medication and toiletries), pet boarding fees and professional cleaning. 

The crime must have been reported to Police and a Police file number is required.  

Fatalities

• Counselling support for family or whānau of someone who has died (up to 30 hours each for family, whānau, close friends and prosecution witnesses).
• Support for travel and accommodation for up to six people (family, whānau of the person who has died, or their support people) to attend justice proceedings, like a court trial or sentencing Close pop-up sentencing This is when the Judge decides what happens to the offender Close pop-up offender Person convicted of a crime (before being found guilty, the person charged with the offence is called 'defendant'). View the full glossary if they've pleaded or been found guilty. View the full glossary . Manaaki Tāngata | Victim Support will make all travel bookings. 

Serious Injuries (physical)

• Counselling support for a serious injury (up to 15 hours each for primary victim/survivor and prosecution witnesses).
• Support for travel and accommodation for the primary victim/survivor and one unpaid support person to attend justice proceedings, like a court trial or sentencing. Manaaki Tāngata | Victim Support will make all travel bookings. 

The support is for incidents that occurred on or after 1 July 2020 and where a prosecution has been made on or after 1 July 2021.