Domestic violence in New Zealand

Domestic violence in New Zealand, often called family violence or family harm is defined under New Zealand law as not only intimate partner violence but also violence against other family members, including children and extended family or whānau, as well as people living together in the same household, such as flatmates.^[1] It is estimated that one third of people in New Zealand have experienced intimate partner violence (IPV) within their lifetime, making New Zealand have the highest rate of domestic violence in 14 OECD countries. In 2020, New Zealand police responded to a domestic violence call every 4 minutes.^[2]

There is a lack of reliable data about domestic violence in New Zealand.^[3][4] It is not clear which gender is affected the most, the Dunedin Study shows that men are more likely to experience domestic violence, however the Ministry of Justice reports that women are more likely to experience domestic violence. Despite this, there are no shelters for male victims of domestic violence in most areas in New Zealand, and there is little public recognition for male victims of abuse.^[5]

The Ministry of Health has suggested that Māori women and children often use health and community services later than others, meaning that when they do their injuries and issues are more serious.^[6]