Getting support for family violence

Free helplines provide support, information, and referrals to local services. You can contact them about your own situation or for someone you know who is experiencing family violence. 
 
You can get support to:

• talk through what’s happening
• create a safety plan for you and your whānau
• report family violence, if and when you choose to. 

Support is available for family and whānau as well as victim-survivors.

Some services offer culturally grounded support, including tikanga-based approaches and restorative processes. 
 
Find the right support service for you: Supporting organisations.

If you suffer an injury from experiencing family violence, ACC may be able to help pay for some of your costs. 
 
Find more information about Financial help.

If your visa depends on your partner, and they are hurting, threatening, controlling or abusing you or your children, there is support available. You may be able to apply for a work visa or a resident visa depending on your situation. 
 
Find more information about Immigration New Zealand visa options for victim-survivors of family violence.(external link)

You and your children’s safety and wellbeing matter. This includes your physical, emotional and spiritual health, having what you need to live, and being able to make your own choices. 
 
Family violence affects children even when they are not the direct target. Children can get protection from the person using violence who: 

• causes them to see and hear violence or
• puts them at risk of seeing and hearing violence. 

Learn more about support available for you and your whānau: Finding support & resources.
 
If hearing or speaking is difficult, you can contact these services using the NZ Relay service. (external link)

• It’s your choice whether you tell police about what happened.
• If you are not sure about making a formal complaint, you can talk to police about your options.
• You can report an assault at any time, even if it happened some time ago.
• If police are concerned about your safety, they may take steps to help keep you and others safe. They can talk this through with you.
• You can talk to police about your options without making a formal report.  

If you decide to tell police, here is an overview of what you can expect: Reporting options.

If you are supporting someone who has experienced family violence, listening to them, believing them, and letting them know they are not alone can really help. 
 
Learn more about how to support someone else: Supporting someone.