About Us
For more information call (07) 878 5081 or alternatively you can email us admin@wwwrefuge.co.nz
“Mā te huruhuru, ka rere te manu”
“With the feathers of knowledge, the bird will fly”
We are here to provide support and advocacy for wāhine, tamariki and whānau who are experiencing family violence.
We cover rural, coastal and town areas in Waitomo and Waipā from Mōkau to Cambridge including Te Kūiti, Benneydale, Kāwhia, Te Awamutu.
We have a team committed to supporting and empowering wāhine, tamariki and whānau to live free of the impacts of family harm.
Who Can We Help?
At Waitomo Waipā Women’s Refuge, we provide the support and information you need when you’re dealing with violence in your life. We have a team committed to supporting and empowering whānau to live free of the impacts of family harm including:
Wāhine - Women
Tamariki - Child
Tāne - Men
Rangatahi - Youth
Pakeke - Adult
Kaumātua - Elderly
LGBTQIA+ community.
How Can We Help?
Our service provides a range of supports for women and children who are experiencing family violence.
We work alongside you to develop safety plans that address the specific risks you and your children face.
We will never tell you what you should do but provide you with information to make informed choices and put support in place that reflects your choices and goals for yourself and your children.
For some women our support will include spending time in our Safe House while obtaining protection and parenting orders, finding rental accommodation, getting benefits sorted and engaging in counselling.
For others having a monitored alarm installed and a home security upgrade and getting protection orders allow her to stay in her home while attending women’s education and support programmes, learning how to help their children address the impact of witnessing abuse.
For women who choose to remain with their partners or to return to them, safety planning, women’s empowerment programmes and emotional support may best meet their needs.
In all cases, the service delivered is chosen by the woman we are supporting who we recognise as the expert on her own needs and those of her children.
What You Can Expect
Waitomo Waipā Women's Refuge has a team of Advocates who are skilled and knowledgeable, empathetic and compassionate.
You will have a dedicated Advocate who will work with you on achieving the goals you set for yourself and who is an expert on assessing risk and working with you to develop a safety plan.
Your Advocate understands that there are lots of barriers in the way of women seeking to leave violent relationships and how much courage and strength it has taken you to reach out to us for help.
She also understands that you may not want to leave your relationship and are seeking advice and support on keeping yourself safe while remaining in the relationship.
She will respect your choices while helping you identify risks and the options available to you and providing you with information to make informed choices.
In choosing to engage with our service, you can expect to be provided with high-quality information and advice, practical assistance and access to resources.
Your Advocate is an expert in Family Violence and skilled in overcoming obstacles and ‘making things happen.
She can connect you with the best legal services, advocate on your behalf with WINZ, provide support in parenting children affected by trauma and refer you to a range of services within the community.
She will walk alongside you as you take the steps needed to create a life free of violence.