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Family Harm Crisis Services
Our Family Harm team supports people who have experienced abuse in a family relationship. We provide a caring and confidential place where you can talk about your concerns and the violence or abuse that you are experiencing.
Family harm can affect everyone in the family. Our team aims to understand the full situation to best support you and your whānau.
Our support is open to everyone, regardless of your decision to stay or leave the relationship. We will work with you to determine the best way for us to support you and your whānau.
Our Services
Woman’s Refuge
We Can Provide
- Women’s Refuge
- Safety plans and options to strengthen your safety
- Information about protection and custody issues
- Home security and safety services
- Referral to relevant services
- A safe place to explore your options
- Support, advice, and advocacy
Your Questions
Is it confidential?
How will the Protection Order work?
If the Protection Order is breached or ignored, for example the person named on it tries to contact you in any way – you should report it to the Police immediately. If you are dissatisfied with how the Police respond to reported breaches, please ring Family Action for advice. The abuser may then be arrested, go to prison or pay a fine.
A Protection Order is also kept on the abuser’s Police file (but it does not show up on a Police check, for example if that person applies for a job requiring a Police check).
It is important to make copies of your order:
Keep one in your handbag
Keep one at home
Give one to your employer, or minimally keep one with you at work
Give one to your local Police station (yes, the Police should have access to it through their computer files, but this will ensure they have access to your order regardless)
Give one to each child’s school/day care and talk to the principal about making sure that staff do not allow the respondent to access your children
What is a protection order?
The abusive person named on it,( respondent) , must not go to your house, neighbourhood or work place and must not follow you or contact you nor the children named in the order in any way, including texts, calls and social media, unless specific arrangements have been made and you are agreeable. They may not encourage anyone else to harass, intimidate or assault you. They must surrender firearms to the Police, and are usually directed to attend a stopping violence programme by the Court.
As the applicant you and your children will be entitled to funded safety programmes which help you plan for safety and help you process what has happened to you.
A Protection Order can include an Occupation/Tenancy Order so that the applicant can occupy the family home and the respondent has to move out immediately. If this occurs your home can be protected by asking your local refuge for assistance from Whanau Protect. This service provides locks and additional security so you can stay at home.