Whānau Protect

The Whānau Protect service plays a key role in providing support and resources for family violence victims and their children to live free from violence while remaining in their homes.

It provides an option for clients who do not want to, or cannot, leave their homes.

Logo for Whānau Protect, a program of the National Home Safety Service, with purple background and white text including a heart inside the letter O

National Home Safety Service

The Whānau Protect service plays a key role in providing support and resources for family violence victims and their children to live free from violence while remaining in their homes.

Whānau Protect is a service available in most locations around New Zealand to support victims of domestic violence who have separated from their abuser.

It is designed to enable victims to remain living safely in their current homes with a reduced risk of family violence re-victimisation.

Our Key Service Criteria

The victim must be living separately from the perpetrator, intends to remain living separately from the perpetrator, and does not intend to invite the perpetrator into their home.

The victim fears further victimisation from the perpetrator that could result in serious physical injury.

It is important to note that this is a service for high-risk victims only and our initial referral form is designed to measure the client's eligibility against high-risk criteria. Whānau Protect is a service available in most locations around New Zealand to support victims of domestic violence who have separated from their abuser. It is designed to enable victims to remain living safely in their current homes with a reduced risk of family violence re-victimisation. Whānau Protect is 6-month service intended to enable a long-term safety plan to be put in place. Unfortunately, once the service is completed, clients are not eligible for any consecutive service.

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Apply for Whānau Protect

If you are applying on behalf of someone else, please ensure you have their permission before proceeding.

If you wish to apply for yourself, we strongly recommend you contact your local refuge for support with the application:

0800 REFUGE or 0800 733 843.

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Need help now?

Crisisline: 0800 REFUGE or 0800 733 843

Phone us toll free from anywhere in New Zealand for information, advice and support about domestic violence as well as help in a crisis.

We’re here to help you on this phone number 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Follow the simple steps to be put through to your local refuge on your touchtone or mobile phone. You will be automatically redirected to a female advocate in your region.