Help us build a 'Kitchen' to support vulnerable whānau in need

Imagine an Aotearoa New Zealand where women and children have a safe place to stay to escape unsafe domestic situations.

Hannah and her children are victims of sexual and domestic violence by an abusive ex-partner. Hannah is at her most vulnerable. Her children are suffering and she’s struggling to keep it together. Hannah and her tamariki are not on their own. More and more women and children in Aotearoa NZ are being harmed in this way, with limited access to help and support. In fact 33% of New Zealand women suffer abuse each year.

Kimiora a Lifeline was created specifically to support families who have been affected by suicide or abuse. Through our mahi, we know that when families like Hannah’s are experiencing domestic abuse, access to immediate and accessible counselling and support is hard to find. We also know that while they wait for the right help, they remain in unsafe situations.

We wanted to remedy this, so in 2018 we purchased 10 acres of land to create a safe haven for whānau experiencing domestic abuse. It’s a beautiful, tranquil space right next to the healing waters of the Whanganui River. Our rōpu have been working so hard over the past 3 years to develop the land, planting fruit trees, an amazing communal garden and building two small cabins for families to stay.

The next thing we need to build is a kitchen, so we can serve kai to families who stay with us. Can you help make this dream a reality for our whānau in need?