How MSD supports the family and sexual violence sector

MSD is collaborating to improve investment and commissioning

We are committed to achieving the transformational change sought by Te Aorerekura - the National Strategy to Eliminate Family Violence and Sexual Violence. The Te Aorerekura action plans and Interdepartmental Executive Board (IEB) guide the collective work of government agencies towards the vision of Te Aorerekura including collective action to support the sector. 

The second action plan, Te Aorerekura Action Plan 2025-2030 – Breaking the Cycle of Violence, outlines key focus areas. The first focus area is Investing and Commissioning Well. This involves adopting a social investment approach to make evidence informed decisions about when, where and how we invest to deliver change and improve lives.  

MSD is working together with other IEB agencies and the Social Investment Agency to identify opportunities to apply social sector commissioning principles and align contracting to increase the efficiency, accessibility and effectiveness of services

MSD is a major funder of family violence and sexual violence services in Aotearoa New Zealand

MSD recognises that the way we fund and engage with community and non-government providers has an impact on progress towards the vision of Te Aorerekura.  

We want to see a future for family and sexual violence services that includes:  

• sustainable funding for providers  
• services centred around whānau  
• services focused on outcomes for their clients  
• support to meet the needs of our diverse communities.  

Since 2018, we have made significant changes to the way we fund family and sexual violence services. This includes: 

• shifting the funding model from contracting for client volume to contracting for staff (FTE) 
• longer term contracts  
• enabling community-led design and expertise 
• supporting a provider mix that reflects the communities they serve 
• addressing service gaps 
• supporting providers to respond to immediate needs and longer term healing and recovery 
• supporting cultural responsiveness  
• enabling providers to respond to the experiences and feedback of individuals, families and whānau who use their services 
• responding to pay equity needs 
• continuing to engage with the sector on opportunities to improve commissioning, meet needs and support innovation. 

This funding approach is part of and responsive to the collective work of the IEB and Te Aorerekura action plans. 

These changes were informed in consultation with sector providers. We worked with providers and key stakeholders to develop our approach to supporting the family and sexual violence sector to respond to the needs in our communities. Learn more about this work in the following reports: 

MSD funds sector support for family and sexual violence providers

MSD funds organisations to support a range of sectors, including support across the family and sexual violence sectors.  

They are key to ensuring the social sector continues to improve and provide effective services for clients and whānau. 

Sector support organisations provide an important connection between the sector and government. They work collaboratively across their sector, build capability, and provide practical support to service providers. Their ability to network keeps the sector connected and informed of policy changes and best practices.  

Some of the organisations we fund are dedicated to supporting the family and sexual violence sectors:

Other initiatives to support the family and sexual violence sectors

MSD has completed various projects focused on improving the systems that prevent violence and deliver services to people affected by violence.

These have been guided by the Te Aorerekura action plans, and been carried out independently and collaboratively with other government agencies.

Strengthening the Stopping Violence System  

The second Te Aorerekura Action Plan included an initiative to review government-funded, community-based interventions for people who use family violence and/or sexual violence. A cross-agency government working group carried out the review in 2025-2026. The Strengthening the Stopping Violence System Report provides a consolidated, evidence‑based overview of existing interventions for people using family violence and/or sexual violence. It provides recommendations to government agencies to improve how government funds, commissions, and supports interventions for people who use violence. Alongside this report, the complementary Engagement Report summarises the engagement insights gained through the evidence gathering process. 

Improving accessibility of family and sexual violence support services  

In 2023, MSD received funding to address the lack of accessible family and sexual violence services for disabled people and tāngata whaikaha Māori. The Accessibility Fund supported family and sexual violence providers to improve their physical, digital, and information-based accessibility. 

Addressing gaps in family violence and sexual violence services 

The first Te Aorerekura action plan included an initiative to identify and address gaps in services for people impacted by family and sexual violence. In 2023, MSD led a cross-agency work programme to identify gaps and a potential approach to address gaps. 

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).