Research and evaluation into family violence and services

This page provides an overview of a range of research and evaluation work that has been undertaken and/or funded by the Ministry of Social Development. 

Research on services and programmes for people affected by family violence

2024 Evaluation of Child Advocates (Kōkihi ngā Rito) programme 

MSD partnered with selected women’s refuges to develop a service focused on tamariki exposed to family violence. Child Advocates are based within women’s refuges and prioritise the voices and needs of children after exposure to family violence. Kōkihi ngā Rito is the Child Advocates service model of the National Collective of Independent Women’s Refuges. In 2024, MSD commissioned an independent quantitative evaluation of Kōkihi ngā Rito to better understand the impact of the programme on tamariki wellbeing after exposure to family violence.

2021 Evaluation report on the procurement and co-design of the Whānau resilience programme 

In 2021 MSD commissioned a kaupapa Māori evaluation of the procurement and co-design of Whānau Resilience by AIKO Consultants Limited and Kaipuke Consultants Limited. The evaluation aimed to understand how well the procurement and co-design processes of the Whānau Resilience programme were developed and implemented, and how these were experienced by three regions: Counties Manukau, Wellington, and Tasman.

2020 Report sharing victim-survivor perspectives on longer-term support 

In 2020 MSD commissioned research by the Backbone Collective to explore what kinds of longer-term support would have helped victim/survivors get safe, recover, and rebuild their lives after experiencing family violence.

Research about abuse of older people

The Prevention of Abuse of Older People work programme was a three-year MSD initiative focused on building the foundations to better understand, prevent, and respond to the abuse of older people in Aotearoa New Zealand. The work programme included a prevalence study of abuse of older people, qualitative research on cultural perspectives about abuse of older people, reviews of existing information and screening and assessment tools, and insights from prevention initiatives. 

Research to inform the Campaign for Action on Family Violence

The Campaign for Action on Family Violence aims to create conditions that support attitude and behaviour change to reduce family violence in Aotearoa. The Campaign is reviewed regularly and refined based on the latest research and findings.   

Some of the research that has informed the current Phase 4 includes:  

2024 Ngā Tāne o Te Tairāwhiti Community Discovery Project 

Tauawhi Men’s Centre and Tāiki e! Impact House brought together diverse groups of community champions in small groups to share insights, perspectives, and ideas to address and prevent intimate partner violence in Tairāwhiti. This was one of two community discovery projects designed to explore the conditions and environments that could help men who have changed their behaviour maintain these changes, and for those men at risk of using violence not engage in this behaviour. 

2023 Stories of Transformation from Tāne in Tauranga Moana  

This research explored the experiences and insights from tāne who have undergone transformation and healing, enabling them to positively contribute to their whānau and communities after previously experiencing or using violence. Conducted by Manawaora | The Centre for Health, the research used a kaupapa Māori and co-design approach. This was one of two community discovery projects designed to explore the conditions and environments that could help men who have changed their behaviour maintain these changes, and for those men at risk of using violence not engage in this behaviour.

2023 Evaluation of SafeMan, SafeFamily 

Ihi Research and Point & Associates worked together to evaluate a two-year pilot of the SafeMan SafeFamily programme in South Auckland. The evaluation explored how the peer-led approach worked to address men’s violence against women.  

2021 Scoping the norms of masculinity

This research, conducted by Kantar (formerly Colmar Brunton), looked at how gender norms impact what it means to be a man in Aotearoa New Zealand. The study engaged over sixty men through a mixture of online forums and face-to-face conversations in small groups. This research also identified barriers and aids to seeking help to change behaviour.

Previous research 

Research related to previous phases of the campaign are available on the Are You Ok website. Also see the initial reports that informed the initial Campaign for Action approach and the Impact of the ‘It’s not ok’ television advertisements.