Timeline

Shama Hamilton Ethnic Women's Centre Trust receives funding to develop a national sexual violence response service for ethnic communities

Caring for our tamaiti mokopuna: Voices of Ngāti Porou tamaiti mokopuna and whānau (Te Runanganui o Ngāti Porou, 2019) published

Report of the independent review of bullying and harassment in the Parliamentary workplace released

He waka roimata: Transforming our criminal justice system, the first report from Te Uepū Hāpai i te Ora, the Safe and Effective Justice Advisory Group released

$320m funding package for family and sexual violence announced in Budget 2019

Translations of standard family violence terms for interpreters (Ministry of Justice) published

Family Violence Act 2018 in force 1 July 2019

Changes to Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 passed in 2017, fully in force 1 July 2019

Oranga Tamariki National Care Standards in force 1 July 2019

Te Korowai Ture ā-Whānau: The final report of the Independent Panel examining the 2014 family justice reforms (Ministry of Justice, 2019) published

Oranga Tamariki - Ministry for Children signs strategic partnerships with Te Rūnanga-Ā-Iwi O Ngāpuhi and Waikato-Tainui

Children's Teams evaluation: Final report (Oranga Tamariki Evidence Centre, 2019) published

Safety of Children in Care. Oranga Tamariki – Ministry for Children publishes first quarterly report. Data available from 1 July 2018

Information sharing guidance from 1 July 2019, published by Ministry of Justice, Oranga Tamariki and Ministry of Health

Child and Youth Wellbeing Strategy released

Relentless not romantic: Intimate partner stalking in Aotearoa New Zealand (Thorburn & Jury, 2019) published

Elder abuse in Aotearoa: The role and current state of MSD's Elder Abuse Response Services (Ministry of Social Development, 2019) published

He ara uru ora: Traditional Māori understandings of trauma and wellbeing (Te Atawhai o Te Ao: Independent Māori Institute for Environment & Health, 2019) published

He rau murimuri aroha: Wāhine Māori insights into historical trauma and healing (Te Atawhai o Te Ao: Independent Māori Institute for Environment & Health, 2019) published

New Zealand Crime and Victims Survey, first results from new survey published

What makes a good life? Children and young people's views on wellbeing (Office of the Children’s Commissioner & Oranga Tamariki, 2019) published

The second review of the Evidence Act 2006: Te Arotake Tuarua i te Evidence Act 2006 (Law Commission, 2019) published

Review of the Property (Relationships) Act 1976: Te Arotake i te Property (Relationships) Act 1976 (Law Commission, 2019) published

E Tū Wāhine, E Tū Whānau: Wāhine Māori keeping safe in unsafe relationships (Wilson, 2019) published

Attrition and progression: Reported sexual violence victimisations in the criminal justice system (Ministry of Justice, 2019) published

Adverse childhood experiences and school readiness outcomes: Results from the Growing Up in New Zealand study (Walsh, Joyce, Maloney & Vaithianathan, 2019) published

Declaration on Gender Equality made by G7 Ministers

Eliminating Violence and Harassment in the World of Work: ILO Convention No. 190, Recommendation No. 206 and the accompanying resolution (ILO, 2019) published

UN Human Rights Council publishes Report of Working Group on New Zealand’s 3rd Universal Periodic Review (A/HRC/41/4). See related documents. Read related news story

Unseen, unsafe: The underinvestment in ending violence against children in the Pacific and Timor-Leste (Save the Children Australia,  ChildFund Australia, Plan International Australia & World Vision, 2019) published

Stand by me: The story of Te Whakaruruhau Waikato Women's Refuge published

Rainbow Violence Prevention Network formed

HEY BRO helpline launched in 2018 by He Waka Tapu (ceased operation 2023)

Media breaks story that law interns sexually harassed, assaulted, sparking attention on #metoo in NZ

Te Ira Tangata: Sexuality education programme for Kura Kaupapa Māori (Te Whāriki Takapou, 2018) published

ACC contract with NZUSA cancelled

Seen and not heard: Children in the New Zealand Family Court. Part two - Lawyer for the child? (The Backbone Collective, 2018) published

Domestic Violence—Victims’ Protection Act 2018 passed. This Act which amends the , Employment Relations Act 2000, Holidays Act 2003, and Human Rights Act 1993 provides workplace protections for victims of domestic violence. The Act comes into force 1 April 2019. 

Families Commission Repeal Act 2018 passed. Social Policy Evaluation and Research Unit (Superu) closed on 30 June 2018. 

Family Violence Act 2018 passed. This act comes into force on 1 July 2019 and will repeal the Domestic Violence Act 1995. 

Family Violence (Amendments) Act 2018 passed. Part 1 (amendments to Bail Act 2000), Part 3 (amendments to Crimes Act 1961) and Part 5 (amendments to the Evidence Act 2006) in force on 3 December 2018. The parts in force on 3 December 2018 introduce the new offences of strangulation or suffocation, coerced marriage or civil union, and assault on family member, and prioritise victim safety in bail decisions and enable video evidence. Other parts of the act come into force on 1 July 2019

Members of Te Rōpū, the interim Māori advisory group for the Government’s joint venture on family violence and sexual violence appointed

He Ara Oranga: Report of the Government Inquiry into Mental Health and Addiction published

Funding for Whānau Resilience Services ($15.369 million) and sexual violence services in 2018 Budget announced

The Hāpaitia te Oranga Tangata - Safe and Effective Justice consultation process launched with the Criminal Justice Summit in August 2018

Mana Wāhine Kaupapa Inquiry - WAI 2700 - Waitangi Tribunal proceedings initiated

Oranga Tamariki - Ministry for Children became the new name for child, youth and family services on 18 January 2018. Previously known as the Ministry for Vulnerable Children, Oranga Tamariki when the organisation replaced Child, Youth and Family on 1 April 2017

Minors (Court Consent to Relationships) Legislation Act 2018 passed, requiring 16 and 17 year olds to apply to the Family Court for approval to marry or enter a civil union. Commenced 14 August 2018

Māori Cultural Framework (Oranga Tamariki – Ministry for Children) developed

Ngāi Tahu and Oranga Tamariki – Ministry for Children sign MOU

Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State Care and in the Care of Faith-based Institutions, terms of reference announced

ACC commits $18.4 million to make the Mates & Dates healthy relationships programme available in more schools nationwide

Pacific family violence research series (Pasefika Proud, 2018) published 

Every 4 minutes: A discussion paper on preventing family violence in New Zealand (OPMCSA, 2018) published

Child migration programmes: Investigation report (United Kingdom. Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, 2018) published

Pasefika Proud Nga Vaka Family Violence Training Programmes commence

VOYCE - Whakarongo Mai (Voice of the Young and Care Experienced - Listen to me) launched 1 April 2017

Pasefika Proud online Pacific service directory launched

Tū Pono: Te Mana Kaha o te Whānau launched

New Zealand Rugby Respect and responsibility review (Cockburn & Atkinson, 2017) published

Gender Equal NZ launched

Medical Sexual Assault Clinicians Aotearoa (MEDSAC, formerly DSAC), launches SAATS-Link, an online network for people working in sexual assault clinics around New Zealand.

Out of the frying pan and into the fire: Women's experiences of the New Zealand Family Court (The Backbone Collective, 2017) published

All eyes on the Family Court: A watchdog report from The Backbone Collective (2017) published

"Don't tell me your problems": The Family Court complaints and appeals landscape (The Backbone Collective, 2017) published

'Break Free' handbook (Shakti Youth, 2017) for migrant and refugee youth experiencing family violence published

Growing up takatāpui: Whānau journeys (Kerekere, Rainbow Youth & Tīwhanawhana Trust) published

Seen and not heard: Children in the Family Court. Part one - force (The Backbone Collective, 2017) published

 ACC invests $1.3m funding over 3 years in Gandhi Nivas to support counselling expertise in working with men who are perpetrators of family violence

Inquiry into the Ministry of Social Development's collection of Individual-Client Level Data from NGOs (Office of the Privacy Commissioner, 2017) published

Whānau Ora funding extended for three more years

Family violence, sexual violence and violence within whānau: Workforce capability framework (Ministry of Social Development, 2017) published

Mandatory registration for social workers to be introduced

Family violence risk assessment and management framework: A common approach to screening, assessing and managing risk (Ministry of Social Development, 2017) published

Family Violence Summit (7 June 2017) held

'A decade of change': 2007 - 2017 (NZ Police, 2017), published. This fiinal report summarises how the Police responded to recommendations from the Commission of Inquiry into Police Conduct established in 2004

Elder abuse helpline launched 1 July 2017

Restorative justice: Best practice framework (Ministry of Justice, 2017) updated

Wahine - E rere ana ki te Pae Hou: Women's strategy 2017 - 2021 (Department of Corrections, 2017) published

Homecare Medical awarded the contract to set up and run a national sexual violence helpline service

Jan Logie MP becomes first Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Minister of Justice (Domestic and Sexual Violence Issues)

Bringing Gender In (Ministry for women | Manatū Wāhine), an online tool to assist policy developers to include gender analysis in their work, launched

Children, Young Persons, and Their Families (Oranga Tamariki) Legislation Act 2017 received Royal Assent on 13 July 2017. This Act makes significant changes (not all yet in force) to the Children, Young Persons and their Families Act 1989, renaming the Act, Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 or Children’s and Young People’s Well-being Act 1989

Pilot of free supervised handover service for vulnerable children in Rotorua and Whanganui announced

Ministry for Vulnerable Children, Oranga Tamariki and iwi work together to strengthen whānau connections and improve children and whānau participation in decision-making.

ACC announces a three year partnership with the New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations (NZUSA) to work on sexual violence prevention in tertiary education settings

Ministry for Vulnerable Children, Oranga Tamariki launched on 1 April 2017, replacing Child, Youth and Family. Renamed Oranga Tamariki - Ministry for Children on 18 January 2018

Investigating Māori approaches to trauma informed care (Pihama, et al., 2017) published

Tū Mai te Rangi! Report on the Crown and disproportionate reoffending rates (Waitangi Tribunal, 2017) published

State of care 2017: A focus on Oranga Tamariki's secure residences (Office of the Children's Commissioner, 2017) published

Six reasons we cannot be effective in reducing intimate partner violence or child abuse and neglect unless we address both together (Family Violence Death Review Committee, 2017) published

Preventing intimate partner violence across the lifespan: A technical package of programs, policies and practices (CDC, 2017) published

$1.9 billion (Australian dollars) package to address family violence over four years announced in State of Victoria Budget 2017/18

Pacific Platform for Action on Gender Equality and Women’s Human rights 2018-2030 endorsed by Ministers for Women from Pacific nations

Women's Refuge online tool for victims to access information safety launched in partnership with The Warehouse

First E Tū Whānau Song Competition held

Tū Mai Awa, a community-based social change project launched

NZ Rugby Respect and Responsibility Project Manager appointed

Lifeline merges with Presbyterian Support Northern (announced December 2016) with PSN committed to funding Lifeline for 18 months

Em, a website designed to embrace, empower and provide empathy for young women in relation to sexual harm in any form launched

A Covenant for our Nation's Children - He Ōati mō ngā Taitamariki ō tō tātou Whenua signed by iwi leaders at the Iwi Leaders Forum (5 August 2016)

Māori Women's Welfare League Waitangi Tribunal claim challenging the policy changes proposed for the care and protection of children and young persons filed

White Ribbon Respectful Relationships campaign with a Toolbox for dads launched

Integrated Safety Response (ISR) to family violence, first pilot site launched in Christchurch in July 2016, followed by second pilot site in Waikato in October 2016

Gang Intelligence Centre launched

Inaugural justice sector Science Advisor appointed

New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) Operation RESPECT, an action plan to address harmful and inappropriate sexual behaviour in the NZDF announced

Understanding family violence: Reforming the criminal law relating to homicide (Law Commission report, 2016, no.139) published

NetSafe appointed the Approved Agency under the Harmful Digital Communications Act 2015

NGO Social Work Study Award scheme defunded

Online toolkit, Making a Difference: Sexual Violence Primary Prevention Toolkit (ACC, 2016) launched

Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities signed by NZ Government, in force 4 November 2016

 The profile of Pacific peoples in New Zealand (Pasefika Proud, 2016) and infographics: Understanding Who We Are (Pasefika Proud, 2016) and Understanding Family Violence (Pasefika Proud, 2016) published

New sexual violence court process in Whangarei and Auckland district courts piloted

New Zealand Disability Strategy 2016 to 2026 launched

Healthy Ageing Strategy (Ministry of Health, 2016) released

Safer sooner: Strengthening family violence laws, a package of proposed law reform announced

Vulnerable Children (Children's Services) Order 2016 in force 18 April 2016

Reforms to Child, Youth and Family announced

Coroner's inquest on four youth suicides notes exposure to family violence 

Family Violence Assessment and Intervention Guideline: Child abuse and intimate partner violence (Fanslow, Kelly & Ministry of Health, 2016) updated

Sharing personal information of families and vulnerable children: A guide for inter-disciplinary groups (Privacy Commissioner & Children's Commissioner, 2016) published

Children, Young Persons, and Their Families (Advocacy, Workforce, and Age Settings) Amendment Act 2016 passed (in force 1 April 2017)

Building Rainbow communities free of partner and sexual violence (Dickson, 2016), released, part of the Hohou Te Rongo Kahukura - Outing Violence project

Te Puāwaitanga o te Kākano research: A background paper report (Pihama & McRoberts, n.d.) exploring Māori views and understandings of sexual violence,  available online

Kathryn's story: How the Government spent well over $100,000 and 15 years pursuing a chronically-ill beneficiary mother for a debt she should not have (MacLennan, 2016) published

Non-Government Organisations (NGO) Study Awards – Exploring the impact on social work students and social service organisations (Yeung, Mooney & English, 2016) report published

State of care 2016: What we learned from monitoring Child, Youth and Family (Office of the Children's Commissioner, 2016) published

Royal Commission into Family Violence (Victorian Government, Australia) tables final report making 227 recommendations

STOP SV: A technical package to prevent sexual violence (CDC, 2016) published

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) CDC resources page published

UN Committee on the Rights of the Child publishes Concluding observations on New Zealand's 5th periodic report on the Convention on the Rights of the Child(CRC/C/NZL/CO/5)

Pacific Island Safety and Prevention Project closed

Relationships Aotearoa closes

Social Change Toolkit for community projects launched by Think Differently

Women's Refuge awarded contract for National Home Safety Service

You, Me / Us a resource for sexuality and gender diverse communities updated

Shakti Youth launches campaign on migrant and refugee children witnessing violence at home

Inaugural Chief Victims Advisor appointed

Social Services Committee releases report into sexual violence service funding

The justice response to victims of sexual violence: criminal trials and alternative processes (Law Commission report, 2015, no. 136) published

Disability Action Plan 2014-2018: update 2015 released

Boutokaan o te mweeraoi: a conceptual framework for enhancing I-Kiribati wellbeing launched

Productivity Commission releases final report on social services

Court information sharing rules changed to support family violence decisions introduced

Government commences review of New Zealand's family violence laws: Strengthening New Zealand’s legislative response to family violence, a public discussion document (Ministry of Justice, 2015) released 

Ministerial group launches new family violence work programme

Police release Recorded Crime Offender Statistics dataset

Ministry of Social Development's Community Investment funding strategy announced

Redesigned ACC sensitive claims service launched, and increased funding for sexual violence prevention announced

Family Violence Information Disclosure Scheme (FVIDS) introduced by New Zealand Police. This scheme is based on a UK initiative known as Clare’s Law

Victims Code launched

First public monitoring report on Child, Youth and Family - State of Care 2015 (Children's Commissioner, 2015) published

Final report of the Confidential Listening and Assistance Service documenting  historical abuses of children in state care published

Vulnerable Children (Requirements for Safety Checks of Children’s Workers) Regulations 2015 in force 1 July 2015

Privacy (Information Sharing Agreement for Improving Public Services for Vulnerable Children) Order 2015 in force 3 August 2015

Revised guidelines on sexuality education in schools released

Panel to lead "major overhaul" of Child, Youth and Family established

Children's Action Plan launches guidelines; trials of Viki, AISA and The Hub announced

NZFVC celebrates 10 years: 2005-2015

Measuring elder abuse in New Zealand: Findings from the New Zealand Longitudinal Study of Ageing (Waldegrave, 2015) published

Creating change: Mobilising New Zealand communities to prevent family violence (Hann & Trewartha, 2015) NZFVC Issues paper no.8 published

An outcome evaluation of Police Safety Orders (Mossman, Kingi & Wehipeihana, 2015) published

First annual report State of care 2015: What we learned from monitoring Child, Youth and Family (Office of the Children's Commissioner, 2015) published

UN Women toolkit supports Pacific region to end violence against women and girls

UK criminalises coercive, controlling and psychological abuse, with passing of the Serious Crime Act 2015, s76 - in force September 2015

App Safety Center (US based) launched

A framework to underpin action to prevent violence against women (UN Women, 2015) released

Change the story: A shared framework for the primary prevention of violence against women and their children in Australia (OurWatch, VicHealth and ANROWS, 2015) developed

Project Mirabal findings, UK research on impact of perpetrator programmes,  reported

Manuals on delivering stopping violence programmes for Māori men published

Culture: No excuse for abuse booklet published by Shakti and It's not OK Campaign

Parole (Extended Supervision Orders) Amendment Act 2014 passed

Changes to Ministry of Justice funded domestic violence programmes announced

Police dataset focusing on victims developed, Recorded Crime Victims Statistics (RCVS) released

Victims' Rights Amendment Act 2014 passed

Law Commission work on sexual violence trial process reforms resumes

Police trial submission of digital evidence in family violence cases

Community Investment group created in Ministry of Development restructure

Family violence: achieving intergenerational change, proposed family violence cross-agency work plan 2014/15 released

Government announces "suite of initiatives" in the justice sector to address family violence

Government releases Expert Advisory Group on family violence report and its response

Pasefika Proud Programme of Action 2014-2017 launched

Vulnerable Children Act 2014 passed

Children, Young Persons, and Their Families (Vulnerable Children) Amendment Act 2014 passed

Glenn Inquiry final report, The People’s Blueprint published

Intimate partner violence and the workplace (Rayner-Thomas, Fanslow & Dixon, 2014) NZFVC Issues paper no. 7 published

The People's Report: the people's inquiry into addressing child abuse and domestic violence (Glenn Inquiry, 2014) published

Measuring the economic costs of child abuse and intimate partner violence to New Zealand - report commissioned by the Glenn Inquiry (Kahui & Snively, 2014) published

The way forward: An integrated system for intimate partner abuse and child abuse and neglect in New Zealand (Herbert & Mackenzie, Impact Collective, 2014) published

Productivity gains from workplace protection of victims of domestic violence (Kahui, Ku & Snively, PSA 2014) published

WHO clinical handbook for health care providers on responding to VAW published

ANROWS (Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety Limited) launched. Originally established as the National Centre of Excellence to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children. ANROWS also took over the functions of the Australian Domestic and Family Violence Clearinghouse from October 2014

UN Women HeForShe campaign launched

The Lancet series of articles on violence against women and girls published

UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities publishes Concluding observations on the initial periodic report of New Zealand's progress on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD/C/NZL/CO/1).

Pasefika Proud campaign - building violence free families - launched

PSA commenced negotiations for special clauses to support workers experiencing family violence

Putting people first: A review of Disability Support Services performance and quality management processes for purchased provider services (Van Eden, Ministry of Health, 2013) released

Domestic Violence Amendment Act 2013 passed

Restorative justice standards for family violence and sexual offending (Ministry of Justice, 2013) published

New funding model for Whānau Ora launched

E Tū Whānau Programme of Action for addressing family violence 2013-2018 launched

First Children’s Team established in Rotorua

Tainui and Child, Youth and Family sign Memorandum of Understanding

Ngāti Porou and Child, Youth and Family sign a Memorandum of Understanding to work together to better protect vulnerable children

Preventing sexual violence : a stocktake of Tauiwi & bicultural primary prevention activities 2013 (Dickson. Tauiwi Prevention Project, TOAH-NNEST, 2013) published

Family violence indicators: Can national administrative data sets be used to measure trends in family violence in New Zealand  (Gulliver & Fanslow. Superu, 2013) published

Why do some men use violence against women and how can we prevent it? : quantitative findings from the United Nations Multi-country Study on Men and Violence in Asia and the Pacific (Fulu, et al. UNDP, 2013) published

Nga Vaka o Kāiga Tapu, the Pacific Conceptual Framework launched. A cultural framework for addressing family violence in seven Pacific communities in New Zealand

Ngāi Tūhoe signs a Social Services Management Plan with the Government to improve social outcomes in the iwi's rohe of Te Urewera

Te Rūnanga Ā Iwi O Ngāpuhi and Child, Youth and Family sign Memorandum of Understanding to work together to protect and nurture children. Ngāpuhi are the first iwi to sign such an agreement

NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs, NZ Police and the Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police (PICP) agreed that the Pacific Prevention of Domestic Violence Programme (PPDVP) would provide a second phase of delivery to 30 June 2016

UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW publishes Concluding observations on the 7th periodic report of New Zealand's progress on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW/C/NZL/CO/7). Read related news story

Purple dandelion: a Muslim woman's struggle against violence and oppression (Sultana & Nair. Exisle, 2011) published. Documents the history of Shakti

Responsibility for Family Violence Death Review Committee transferred to Health Quality & Safety Commission

Family Violence Death Review Committee - second report for period October 2009 to November 2011 (FVDRC, 2011) published

Tauawhi Men's Centre opens in Gisborne

Research on the impact of the 'It's Not OK' campaign published

Safe[at]home evaluation (Martin & Levine. MSD, 2010) published