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Overview
If you feel unsafe and need somewhere safe to go or would like support to make a safety plan, this page explains some options and where you can get help.
If you need to get somewhere safe right now
If you need to leave quickly and have not had time to plan where to go, try to get to a place where you feel safe.
You could go to someone you trust, such as a friend, neighbour, family member, or whānau.
If there is no one nearby you can go to right now, try going to a busy shop or another public place where other people are around.
There are options available if you need help now. You can:
- for emergencies, contact police on 111
- contact a crisis line
- contact a safe house service (anchor to Finding a safe house service for your situation)
- ask someone you trust to help you find support.
Find more information about how you can Get help now
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call the Police on 111
If you need the Police but can’t speak for fear of harm, you will be asked to press keys for emergency assistance. If hearing or speaking is difficult, you can sign up to 111 TXT
If you need to leave this website quickly, use the ‘quick exit button’ at the bottom of the screen.
If you need urgent support services, you can get help now
Finding a safe house service for your situation
There are different safe house services in Aotearoa New Zealand. You can choose to contact the support service that is near you and feels right for you and your situation.
Some safe house support services have free 24/7 crisis lines you can contact any time. They can talk with you about safe accommodation and support options.
Services that can help you find a safe house
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Women’s Refuge
Women’s Refuge(external link) supports women and children experiencing family violence. The specialist team can connect you with local safe houses and help with safety planning, crisis support and practical help.
Freephone: 0800 733 843 (24/7 support)
Email: info@refuge.org.nz
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Shine
Shine(external link) provides family violence support for women, including a free confidential crisis line. They can help with emergency accommodation, safety planning and support programmes.
Freephone: 0508 744 633 (24/7 support)
Email: enquiries@2shine.org.nz
Safe houses with support in Asian, Middle Eastern and African languages
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Shakti
Shakti (external link)offers specialist family violence support in several Asian, Middle Eastern and African languages as well as English. They offer crisis support and some regional safe housing.
Freephone: 0800 742 584 (24/7 support)
Email: crisisline@shakti.org.nz
Safe houses for queer, trans, takatāpui, and Rainbow people
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Gender Minorities Aotearoa
Gender Minorities Aotearoa(external link) offers specialist support for all queer, trans, takatāpui, and Rainbow people. They support with accessing emergency safe housing.
Phone: 022 673 7002 (10am to 6pm weekdays)
Private Facebook group: Transgender and Rainbow Housing NZ(external link)
Safe houses for male victim-survivors of family violence
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Are You OK
If you are a man experiencing family violence and need to leave an unsafe situation, you can contact:
Are You OK(external link) provides family violence information and support options. They can help if you are experiencing family violence.
Freephone: 0800 456 450 (24/7 support)
Find more information about Supporting organisations
Support for men and families that may fit your situation.
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Mental Health Foundation
The Mental Health Foundation(external link) can provide you with more information around mental health and wellbeing support.
How a safe house service can support you
If you need to get somewhere safe and are at risk of harm where you live, there are services that can help you find a safe place to stay.
They can talk with you about safe accommodation and support options. They can help with safety planning for you and your whānau, and support to talk with police if you choose to.
Safe houses provide a safe and confidential place to stay. Their locations are not publicly shared and often have security measures in place to help keep you safe.
Safe place for you and your children
A safe house service can offer more than emergency accommodation for you and your children.
Depending on what is available, support may include:
- support and advocacy for family violence matters
- support with childcare
- safety planning
- help to understand your options
- community support
- practical support while you work out your next steps.
Finding shelter for your pet
Pets often cannot stay at a safe house. If you need to leave quickly and you are worried about a pet, you can tell the safe house service when you ask for support.
Pet Refuge(external link) can provide confidential temporary care for pets at no cost. This can include safe transport and veterinary treatment.
Freephone: 0800 738 733 843
Safety planning if you feel unsafe
A safety plan may help if you are thinking about leaving, or if you are staying but may need to leave quickly.
A safety plan is a simple, practical plan for what you can do if you feel unsafe. It can help you think about what you need right now, what may help in the future, and who can support you.
A support service such as Are you okay(external link) may be able to help you plan:
- who to contact
- where you could go
- what information to keep private
- what support your children may need
- what help you may be able to get from support services or police.
Women’s Refuge(external link) have a shielded site which offers a live chat function and information about safety planning, leaving, and online safety.
A safety plan cannot remove all risk, but it can help you feel more prepared. It can be hard to become safe without help from others. Only you can decide what is best for you.
A variety of support services can help you with safety planning.
Find more information about supporting organisations in your area and how they can support you depending on your situation: Supporting organisations
Legal protection that can help
If you feel unsafe, there may be legal protections that can help. The court and the police can make orders to help protect you from harm.
Find more information about Getting legal protection
Supporting someone else
If you’re supporting someone who is experiencing harm or at risk of harm where they live, being there, listening, and believing them can make a big difference.
Find more information about: Supporting someone