These resources were compiled to support the government's engagement around the development of a National Strategy and Action Plans. The strategy, Te Aorerekura, was launched in December 2021. This page lists reports, research and other resources related to victims and survivors experiences of family violence and sexual violence.
Click here to go to our other national strategy engagement pages
The report from the Backbone Collective, Victim-Survivor Perspectives on Longer-Term Support After Experiencing Violence and Abuse (2020), reports on the types of long-term support needed to help victim-survivors get safe, recover and rebuild their lives after experiencing violence and abuse. It was commissioned by the Ministry of Social Development to inform the Whānau Resilience work programme. The Backbone Collective have written a number of other reports detailing the experiences of victims and survivors particularly in the Family Court.
Te tangi o te manawanui: Recommendations for reform: strengthening the criminal justice system for victims (2019) is a report from the Chief Victims Advisor to government. The report synthesises feedback gathered through a series of workshops and engagements with victims around the country and the Strengthening the Criminal Justice System for Victims Survey. More information is available on the Chief Victims Advisor's website.
The report, E Tū Wāhine, E Tū Whānau: Wāhine Māori keeping safe in unsafe relationships (2019) affirms the need for new thinking and strategies that better support Māori women living with violence. The study, led by Professor Denise Wilson, finds that negative judgment and attitudes, racism and discrimination often prevent wāhine Māori from accessing services and further entrap wāhine in violent relationships.
NZFVC Issues Paper 15, Historical trauma and whānau violence (2019) by Leonie Pihama, Ngaropi Cameron and Rihi Te Nana explores historical trauma and the impact of whānau violence on Māori. The paper was developed from two research programmes ‘He Kokonga Whare: Māori Intergenerational Trauma and Healing’ and ‘He Waka Eke Noa: Māori Cultural Frameworks for Violence Prevention and Intervention.’ As part of a wider family violence programme of work these projects focus broadly on historical trauma, the intergenerational impact of whānau and sexual violence on Māori, and healing pathways. There is also a webinar 'Historical trauma and whānau violence' presented by Professor Leonie Pihama available online.
The voice of experience: Family violence - service user involvement guide (2012) published by the Taskforce for Action on Violence within Families focuses on ways to involve family violence service users in organisations, with a particular emphasis on including service user input into policy and service development processes.
The Family Violence Experts by Experience Framework: Research report and framework (2020) developed by researchers and suvivor advocates in Victoria, Australia aims to enhance the ability of specialist family violence services to provide opportunities for survivor advocates to influence policy development, service planning and practice.
A literature review commissioned by the Ministry of Social Development, What is known about effective recovery services for men who have been sexually abused? (2019) brings together current evidence about effective approaches to support men who have been sexually abused (as children and/or adults) in their journey of recovery. Because of the limited evidence base a broad exploratory approach has been taken to examine what is known about supporting men, and what is considered emerging good practice.
Best practice in engaging survivors of Sexual Exploitation Abuse and Sexual Harassment (SEAH)(2020) provides a rapid review of the documentation of efforts to engage survivors of SEAH (and other types of violence, where relevant) in developing policy, as well as reviewing research conducted on survivors’ needs and priorities.
Search the NZFVC library for more information on victims/survivors | pārurenga
Backbone Collective survey - helping victim-survivors have their say
The Backbone Collective were also contracted by the Joint Venture to provide an alternative way for people who identify as female, aged 16+, who have experienced family violence or sexual violence, to share their feedback on what should be included in the National Strategy and Action Plans.
Their report, Victim-survivor feedback on the government's National Strategy and Action Plan to Eliminate Family Violence and Sexual Violence, provides a summary of the feedback to a Backbone survey of 260 women and 4 gender diverse/non-conforming victim-survivors who live throughout Aotearoa New Zealand.