Public Information & Confidentiality

Waitomo-Waipā Women’s Refuge is committed to providing safe, confidential, and professional support to wāhine and tamariki across our region.

Because of the nature of our work, there are clear boundaries around what we can share publicly.

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

Our Commitment to Confidentiality

Confidentiality is central to everything we do.

Women and children contact us at vulnerable and often high-risk moments in their lives.

Protecting their privacy is not optional, it is essential.

We operate under:

The Privacy Act 2020
Professional ethical standards
National refuge guidelines
Internal governance and risk management policies

We do not share personal information without consent unless there is an immediate risk of harm or a legal requirement to do so.

Why We Do Not Comment on Individual Situations

To protect safety and privacy:

We do not comment on individual cases.

We do not confirm or deny whether someone has accessed our services.

We do not discuss private matters publicly.

Even when information is shared publicly by others, our obligation to confidentiality remains.

These boundaries apply to:

Media enquiries

Social media discussions

Online commentary

Public speculation

Our silence on individual matters should not be interpreted as avoidance.

It reflects our responsibility to protect those we support.

Professional and Ethical Standards

Our services are delivered by trained advocates under the leadership of our Refuge Manager, Wendy Valler and governed by a voluntary Board chaired by Nicki Raffills.

We operate within nationally recognised frameworks and are affiliated with the National Collective of Independent Women’s Refuges.

Our team works within:

Trauma-informed practice models

Culturally responsive approaches

Clear organisational policies

Structured risk assessment processes

Safety, fairness, and dignity guide every decision.

Raising Concerns

If someone has questions or concerns about our services, we encourage them to contact us directly.

We are committed to addressing concerns respectfully and through appropriate governance channels.

You can contact us via:

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (07) 878 5081

Post: P.O. Box 163, Te Kūiti

More information about our governance and accountability processes can be found on our Governance & Accountability page.

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.