New Zealand Achieves Key Milestones in Reducing Family and Sexual Violence

Launched in December 2024, the second Te Aorerekura Action Plan represents a strategic refinement of the Government’s national approach to violence prevention.

New Zealand has reached significant milestones in its fight against family and sexual violence, marking measurable progress toward safer communities and stronger support systems for survivors. The announcement came from Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence, Karen Chhour, who confirmed that all targets under the second Te Aorerekura Action Plan have been completed ahead of schedule, signaling what she described as a "turning point" in the nation's long battle against gender-based violence.

"Family and sexual violence are deeply entrenched national issues," Minister Chhour said. "For years, our responses were fragmented — well-intentioned, but not connected. Te Aorerekura is about doing fewer things, but doing them better — aligning communities, agencies, and resources to deliver real, lasting support for survivors and break the cycle of harm."

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A Focused, Community-Led Approach

Launched in December 2024, the second Te Aorerekura Action Plan represents a strategic refinement of the Government's national approach to violence prevention. Rather than expanding new initiatives, it prioritizes coordination — bringing together government agencies, iwi, community organizations, and frontline responders to ensure that victims, families, and perpetrators receive timely and effective support.

Minister Chhour emphasized that the success of the plan reflects the power of local innovation and collective ownership. "Every community is different, but none are immune to the tragedy of family and sexual violence," she said. "This work is not about politics — it's about saving lives."

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Key Achievements and Milestones

According to the Ministry's progress report, all the plan's milestones have been met ahead of schedule. The results demonstrate both national impact and regional innovation:

• Improved Multi-Agency Responses: Coordinated efforts in Auckland City, Rotorua, Canterbury, Waitākere, Gisborne, and Hawke's Bay have significantly strengthened joint responses to high-risk incidents. These efforts promote locally led solutions, empowering community groups and NGOs to take the lead in interventions.

• Accelerated Outreach in Rotorua: Between February and April 2025, over 1,200 high-risk individuals received intensive support — averaging 350 family violence interventions per month. This rapid outreach model is now being considered for national replication.

• Expanded Safety Programmes: Access to support services for victim-survivors involved in court proceedings has been broadened across five district courts in the Auckland region, ensuring trauma-informed assistance and legal protection.

• Rehabilitation Support for Prisoners: Both offence-focused and non-offence-focused rehabilitation programmes have been extended to prisoners on remand, addressing behavioural causes and reducing recidivism linked to domestic and sexual violence.

"We are seeing tangible change," Chhour noted. "We are connecting systems that were once fragmented, ensuring that families get the right help, at the right time, in the right way."

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The Canterbury Model: A Proven Success

One of the most striking examples of success comes from Canterbury's Integrated Safety Response (ISR) — a pioneering, multi-agency initiative that brings together police, health services, social workers, and NGOs to identify and support families at risk.

Since the ISR model was introduced, family violence homicides in Canterbury have dropped by 53 percent, a figure that Minister Chhour called "a testament to what's possible when we work together."

"The lessons from ISR — rapid risk assessment, collaboration with family violence specialists, and prioritization of safety — are now being shared nationwide," she said. "This is not just a local success story; it's a model for New Zealand."

While the ISR was launched before Chhour's tenure, she emphasized that violence prevention must transcend political divides. "This work matters more than partisan politics," she said. "Anything that makes our nation safer should be celebrated and learned from."

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Breaking the Cycle: A Systemic Challenge

Despite the achievements, New Zealand continues to face high rates of family and sexual violence, among the highest in the OECD. Statistics show that one in three women experiences physical or sexual violence in her lifetime, and children in affected households face increased risks of trauma, mental health challenges, and intergenerational harm.

The Te Aorerekura framework takes a whole-of-society approach, focusing on prevention, early intervention, and healing. It integrates the voices of Māori and Pacific communities, recognizing that cultural leadership and local knowledge are essential for sustainable change.

Dr. Hinewirangi Morgan, a community advocate in Gisborne, praised the initiative's inclusive design. "For the first time, local voices are shaping national action," she said. "We're not just delivering programmes — we're restoring mana and safety to our whānau."

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Collaboration and Next Steps

The Minister confirmed that her office is working with Justice, Corrections, Health, and Police to further strengthen data sharing, evaluation, and frontline coordination. The next phase of the plan will expand trauma-informed training for first responders and enhance early prevention programmes targeting youth and at-risk families.

The Government also plans to establish a National Centre for Family and Sexual Violence Prevention by mid-2026, which will serve as a hub for policy innovation, research, and best-practice dissemination.

"This progress shows what can be achieved when government and communities pull in the same direction," said Chhour. "But the work is far from over. Our goal is not just to reduce harm — it's to build a society where violence has no place."

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Towards Safer, More Resilient Communities

New Zealand's accelerated progress under Te Aorerekura demonstrates a growing capacity for coordinated, evidence-based action against family and sexual violence. The achievements in Rotorua and Canterbury, in particular, show how local leadership and national support can deliver measurable, life-saving results.

Minister Chhour closed her statement with a call for continued unity and vigilance:

"Ending family and sexual violence is not the work of a single government or generation — it's the work of us all. Every safer home, every protected child, every empowered survivor brings us closer to the New Zealand we want to be."