Population-based research

Population-based research provides the most reliable source of prevalence data available and provides information about victims and perpetrators of family violence.

You will find population-based data on family and sexual violence in New Zealand in these surveys and longitudinal studies.

Surveys

He Koiora Matapopore | 2019 NZ Family Violence Study
New Zealand Violence Against Women Study (2003)
New Zealand Crime and Victims Survey (NZCVS)
Youth2000 survey series

Longitudinal studies

Christchurch Health and Development Study (CHDS)
Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study (DMHDS)
Pacific Islands Families Study (PIF Study)

Surveys

He Koiora Matapopore | 2019 NZ Family Violence Study

This study builds on the work of the 2003 Violence Against Women Study and seeks to fill some of the information gaps not covered in the 2003 work. Findings from the 2019 survey provide new population ‘baseline’ statistics on the prevalence of violence exposure. The final sample size for this study was 2887 and consisted of 1423 men and 1464 women who completed interviews between March 2017 and March 2019. Read more about the methodology

Key findings and policy and practice implications from He Koiora Matapopore | The 2019 New Zealand Family Violence Study (Fanslow & McIntosh, 2023)
This 28 page report provides a snapshot (with infographics) of some study findings, including information on: prevalence of physical and sexual violence experience by non-partners, prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV), gender differences in IPV exposure, and rates of violence against disabled people. Information on adverse childhood experiences and intergenerational effects is also provided. The importance of social support after IPV is mentioned. Policy and practice recommendations are offered.

Findings published so far are available in these journal articles

Economic abuse by an intimate partner and its associations with women’s socioeconomic status and mental health (Mellar, Fanslow, Gulliver & McIntosh, 2024) Open access

Ethnic-specific prevalence rates of intimate partner violence against women in New Zealand (Fanslow, Mellar, Gulliver & McIntosh, 2023) Open access

Evidence of gender asymmetry in intimate partner violence experience at the population-level (Fanslow, Mellar, Gulliver & McIntosh, 2023) Open access

Association between women’s exposure to intimate partner violence and self-reported health outcomes in New Zealand
(Mellar, Hashemi, Selak, Gulliver, McIntosh & Fanslow, 2023). Open access

Association between men’s exposure to intimate partner violence and self-reported health outcomes in New Zealand (Mellar, Gulliver, Selak, Hashemi, McIntosh & Fanslow, 2023). Open access

Prevalence of interpersonal violence against women and men in New Zealand: Results of a cross-sectional study (Fanslow, Malihi, Hashemi, Gulliver & McIntosh, 2022). Open access

Change in prevalence rates of physical and sexual intimate partner violence against women: Data from two cross-sectional studies in New Zealand, 2003 and 2019 (Fanslow, Hashemi, Malihi, Gulliver & McIntosh, 2021). Open access

Change in prevalence of psychological and economic abuse, and controlling behaviours against women by an intimate partner in two cross-sectional studies in New Zealand, 2003 and 2019 (Fanslow, Malihi, Hashemi, Gulliver & McIntosh, 2021). Open access

Relational mobility and other contributors to decline in intimate partner violence (Hashemi, Fanslow, Gulliver & McIntosh, 2021). Open access

A century of sexual abuse victimisation: A birth cohort analysis (Fanslow, Hashemi, Gulliver & McIntosh, 2021). Open access

Lifetime prevalence of intimate partner violence and disability: Results from a population-based study in New Zealand (Fanslow, Malihi, Hashemi, Gulliver & McIntosh, 2021). Open access

Prevalence of nonpartner physical and sexual violence against people with disabilities (Malihi, Fanslow, Hashemi, Gulliver & McIntosh, 2021). Open access

Exploring the health burden of cumulative and specific adverse childhood experiences in New Zealand : results from a population-based study (Hashemi, Fanslow, Gulliver & McIntosh, 2021). Open access

Adverse childhood experiences in New Zealand and subsequent victimization in adulthood: Findings from a population-based study (Fanslow, Hashemi, Gulliver & McIntosh, 2021)

All publications related to this study can be found in the NZFVC library

New Zealand Violence Against Women Study (2003)

This is the largest study of violence against women ever undertaken in New Zealand. It provides robust data on the prevalence and health consequences of violence. Conducted in 2003, the survey involved face-to-face interviews with 2,855 women from a random sample in the community.

Findings published in these journal articles

New Zealand Crime and Victims Survey (NZCVS)

The New Zealand Crime & Victims Survey (NZCVS) collects information about New Zealanders’ experience of crime. This has run every year since 2018 asking 8,000 New Zealanders from all walks of life about their experiences. The NZCVS has replaced the the previous New Zealand Crime and Safety Survey (NZCASS) series.

Latest survey findings - Cycle 6 (2023), published June 2024

Victimisation in Aotearoa New Zealand - Infographic, PDF (based on Cycle 5 data)

Findings from each cycle are published in reports, data tables, infographics and topic reports:

Resources and results - see left hand index for data for each Cycle

Previous surveys:

2014 New Zealand Crime and Safety Survey

Earlier New Zealand crime and safety surveys

Youth2000 Survey series

The first National Survey of the Health and Wellbeing of New Zealand Secondary School Students was conducted in 2001 by the Adolescent Health Research Group (AHRG), University of Auckland. The survey covered a wide range of health-related areas including witnessing violence in the home, experience of physical violence, antisocial behaviours, antisocial messaging and sexual abuse and coercion. The survey was repeated in 2007, 2012 and 2019. Findings on violence are included in these reports.

The Youth19 Rangatahi Smart Survey (Youth19) is the latest in the Youth2000 series of health & wellbeing surveys. Findings are published in the publications section of the Youth19 website.

Youth '12 survey results:

Youth '12 prevalence tables: The health and wellbeing of New Zealand secondary school students in 2012. (Clark, T.C., et al. AHRG, 2013).

Publications with a focus on violence (including sexual violence):

Youth19: Safety & violence brief (Fleming, T. et al, AHRG, 2021)

Sexual and reproductive health and sexual violence among New Zealand secondary school students: Findings from the Youth `12 national youth health and wellbeing survey. (Clark, T.C. et al. AHRG, 2016).

Young people and violence: Youth '07. The health and wellbeing of secondary school students in New Zealand. (Fleming, T., et al. AHRG, 2009).

More Youth2000 project publications

Learn more about the Adolescent Health Research Group.