Women's Refuge Whanganui

We are the only community agency that is available 24/7, 365 days a year with a crisis/support line and face to face assistance any time night or day. We act and respond to emerging situations. We are able to offer crisis housing for women and children at high risk of further harm, a professional community service, and a highly valued advocacy service.

Intimate partner violence can affect many New Zealanders. A 2005 study showed that within New Zealand, 1 in 3 women, and 1 in 2 Māori women could experience physical and or sexual violence in their lifetimes. These statistics are of concern not only for the direct victims or survivors of violence, but also for children who are living in homes where violence occurs. According to a Families Commission report, 70% of family violence takes place while there are children in the household. Exposure to violence negatively effects people’s physical and mental wellbeing and can lead to increased health problems.

The number of police incidents reports we have responded to locally in the last year has been over 2000. The number of incoming calls to our crisis/support line has been over 1500 in the last year.

Women and children have the right to feel safe and live with dignity in all places at all times, inside and outside of their homes. With the work we do we gain insight into women's emotional conflict and abusive situations. We know from the stories we hear, women want the violence to stop, and to have an opportunity for a longer period of time to be and feel safe before they can enter into decisions and choices about their future and the safe future of their children.

To help to achieve this goal we need your help, money donated goes towards the running of the Whanganui Women’s Refuge and towards helping women and children find safety.