Sexual Violence
Getting support for sexual violence
- Home
- Understanding crime types
- Sexual Violence
- Getting support for sexual violence
Overview
There are specialist organisations that can help you if you have experienced sexual violence or know someone who has.
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
You do not have to go through this alone
Support is available whatever your situation. Whether it happened recently, or a long time ago, it’s never too late to get help.
Your voice, identity, and circumstances matter. Support should be based on your personal situation and reflect what you need.
Your options for help and support
There are specialist organisations that offer help and support. They can help you with things like coping mechanisms, accessing counselling, or whether you want to report what happened to police.
Safe to talk helpline
You can talk to the people at the Safe to talk(external link) specialist helpline for professional support.
They can:
- connect you to support services in your community
- help you find support that’s right for you
- offer support for friends, family, and whānau.
Other specialist support services are also available.
Talking to Police
You can talk to the New Zealand Police about your options, even if you do not want to make an official report.
It’s your choice whether you tell police what happened to you. You can report sexual violence even if it happened days, weeks, or years ago.
If you decide to tell police, here is an overview of what may happen: Telling the Police | Victims Information For People Affected by Sexual Violence(external link)
If you feel unsafe, the court and the police can help you to get legal protection
How ACC (Accident Compensation Corporation) can help
If you have experienced sexual violence, ACC funds therapy and other support through its sensitive claims service for certain acts of sexual abuse or female genital mutilation.
You do not have to report to police to use the sensitive claims service. The sexual harm can be recent or historical.
Support if you’ve experienced sexual abuse or assault | ACC(external link)
Support someone else
If you are supporting someone who has experienced sexual violence, listening to them, believing them, and letting them know they are not alone can help.
Learn more about supporting someone