Media & Public Enquiries

Waitomo-Waipā Women’s Refuge recognises the important role media and community dialogue play in raising awareness about family violence.

We are committed to engaging responsibly and professionally, while protecting the safety and privacy of wāhine and tamariki.

Media Contact

All media enquiries should be directed to our designated spokesperson.

Board Chair: Nicki Raffills

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (07) 878 5081

If Nicki is unavailable, enquiries will be directed appropriately through our governance or operational leadership.

We aim to respond to legitimate media enquiries as promptly as possible.

Confidentiality Boundaries

Because of the nature of our work, there are clear limits to what we can discuss publicly.

We do not:

Comment on individual cases

Confirm or deny whether someone has accessed our services

Discuss private matters relating to current or former clients

These boundaries exist to protect safety, dignity, and privacy.

They apply across:

Print and broadcast media

Online publications

Social media platforms

Community forums

Our responsibility to confidentiality remains, regardless of public commentary elsewhere.

Our Role in the Community

Waitomo-Waipā Women’s Refuge provides advocacy, education, and safe housing support to wāhine and tamariki affected by family violence across Waitomo and Waipā.

We are:

Locally governed

Affiliated with the National Collective of Independent Women’s Refuges

Accountable to legal, funding, and governance frameworks

Committed to trauma-informed and culturally responsive practice

For more information about our governance and accountability processes, please visit our Governance & Accountability page.

Community Enquiries

General enquiries from members of the public can be directed to:

Phone: 0800 REFUGE (0800 733 843)

Email: [email protected]

If you are seeking support, please visit our Get Help page or call our 24-hour crisis line.

Women's Refuge Waitomo Waipā is an affiliated member of the Women’s Refuge National Collective, working alongside refuges across Aotearoa to support women and whānau experiencing family violence.