MSD’s work to address family violence

MSD’s role in eliminating family and sexual violence

New Zealand has some of the highest recorded levels of family violence in the world, which has a devastating impact on people and communities across the country.  

MSD is part of a collective approach across government agencies and alongside communities to eliminate family and sexual violence in New Zealand. 

As part of this, we recognise that the way we fund and engage with community and non-government providers of support and services to address family and sexual violence (FV/SV) has a significant impact on progress toward this goal.

Family violence prevention

National and community-led campaigns and initiatives 

Prevention initiatives aim to prevent harm before it happens or create supportive environments for change. Prevention approaches lead to widespread benefits and reduce the heavy cost of violence on our social, justice and health sectors. 

Our national and community-led solutions to prevent family violence include: 

• Campaign for Action on Family Violence 
• Love Better – youth campaign 
• E Tū Whānau – kaupapa Māori initiative 
• E Tū Whānau for Former Refugees and Migrants 
• Pasefika Proud Campaign 
• Ethnic Communities Violence Prevention 

Family violence crisis support

Elder Abuse Response Services (EARS)

Elder Abuse Response Services (EARS) address the immediate needs of older people experiencing or are at risk of experiencing abuse and neglect. This also includes a 24-hour helpline and a separate helpline for EARS providers to access legal information and support for clients. 

Family violence and sexual violence helplines

MSD funds or directly provides helpline services, online help, and digital tools for people affected by family violence. These include the Are You Ok website for victims/survivors of family violence and those supporting them, and the Change is Possible website for people using violence and those supporting them to change their behaviour.

Women’s Refuge and other family violence response providers

MSD funds services around New Zealand to provide support for women and children experiencing violence. This can include safe housing, safety planning, advocacy, counselling and programmes.

Wraparound Housing Services 

Wraparound Housing Services support people who use violence or are at risk of using violence with access to 24/7 accommodation and wraparound support services when they need it. It aims to foster greater safety, stability, and long-term healing and recovery for those affected by family violence.

Supporting community-led responses 

MSD supports non-government organisations to participate in Safety Assessment Meetings (SAM) with Police and other local agencies. These meetings provide a place for government agencies and local organisations to work together to identify and provide appropriate support to people affected by family violence.

Family violence long-term support and healing

Whānau Resilience to support long-term healing and recovery services 

Whānau Resilience aims to create strong, resilient communities where whānau are supported to live violence free and to eliminate violence for the next generation. This initiative offers long-term support for people experiencing and using violence when they need it.

Supporting behaviour change for men using violence

Te Huringa ō Te Ao is an initiative that supports sustainable behaviour change for tāne and men. This includes strengthening and expanding support for men who use violence by supporting locally led responses that reflect the needs and aspirations of communities.

Family Violence and Sexual Violence Update

You can keep up to date with MSD’s work in family and sexual violence and learn about opportunities to be involved via our Family Violence and Sexual Violence Update (FVSV Update).