New report from NZFVC looks at how to strengthen local violence networks in Aotearoa

The NZFVC was commissioned by Te Puna Aonui to understand more about existing local and regional family violence and sexual violence networks, the current landscape of collaborative initiatives addressing violence in Aotearoa, and what would strengthen existing local and regional networks. 

The findings and recommendations in Strengthening and Expanding Local and Regional Family Violence and Sexual Violence Networks (2024) are based on a literature review, an online survey and focus groups and interviews with key informants from local networks, national networks, and government agencies. 

The report identified approximately 43 existing local family violence and sexual violence networks in Aotearoa and noted their role in building relationships, fostering good practice and information sharing, training, supporting network members in their work, and leading community awareness and mobilisation activities addressing both family violence and sexual violence. It found that local networks play a unique and essential role in holding space for coordination and collaboration that spans crisis response, intervention, and prevention. Within these networks, Family Violence Network Coordinators play an important role in bringing people in communities together to align their work. 

The report also found that: 

• Family and sexual violence networks across Aotearoa are a critical mechanism for implementing Te Aorerekura. There is significant potential to strengthen existing networks to enhance their effectiveness and impact. 
• There is a lack of a cohesive plan in relation to family violence and sexual violence networks across government. This creates a continuous cycle of ‘new’ initiatives layered over and competing with existing initiatives, along with a loss of focus and investment for existing and effective initiatives. 
• Funding for existing networks is extremely insecure. There is a serious risk that two decades of expertise and community initiatives will be lost. 
• While existing local family violence networks are inclusive of tangata whenua, additional structures and spaces need to be strengthened and/or developed that are led by tangata whenua and that respond specifically to the needs and aspirations of tangata whenua.
• Key informants, researchers and experts have been saying the same things for 20 years and yet recommendations aimed at strengthening networks have largely been ignored. This has been the biggest barrier to success. 

The report recommends that:

• A clear and cohesive long-term plan be developed that articulates the role and value of local violence prevention networks that aligns with Te Aorerekura Shift Two: Towards Mobilising Communities.
• Secure long-term funding is allocated to support networks at all levels of the system. This includes networks operating at the local, regional and national levels. 
• Backbone infrastructure is developed to support individual coordinators, reduce isolation, assist in feedback loops, increase consistency across networks and provide guidance and support for best practice. Specifically, a national coordinator role should be established with responsibility for assisting with coordination across networks. 
• Funding is allocated to support tangata whenua to develop networks/structures that are led by tangata whenua and that respond specifically to the needs and aspirations of tangata whenua, irrespective of their participation within other networks. 

Find contact details for all local violence networks and more information about the local networks.