Te Wāhi Whakaora Rotorua and District Women’s Refuge assists women, children and whānau who are experiencing family violence within the Rotorua and surrounding districts. We do this through support, advocacy, education, and awareness.
Family Violence is a pattern of power, control and coercion – it is not always physical, and affects many women in Aotearoa.
If something does not feel right, we encourage you to reach out.
Our Staff
We are here to support you to make an informed decision about the options available to you and to help you implement any goals and plans you put in place.
This journey is yours. The choices are yours. The successes are yours.
As your advocate, we will:
- Support your safety by working with you to identify risks and put strategies in place.
- Provide you with information on accessing services to support your safety.
- Register you and your tamariki into one of our safehouses if your present home exposes you to danger.
- Listen so we can best understand your goals for yourself, and your tamariki, and provide practical and emotional support to enable you to achieve those goals.
- Help you navigate the many agencies you may have to deal with as a survivor of family violence including Work & Income, NZ Police, Courts, and Oranga Tamariki.
We are unable to:
- Tell you what you should or shouldn’t do.
- Provide emergency accommodation.
- Provide financial support.
- Provide childcare.
We will not:
- Be subject to verbal or physical abuse, threats, or intimidation.
Our Governance Board
We have a governance board to provide leadership by setting the strategic direction for the Refuge. They oversee the provision of services for women and children who are exposed to or experience family violence. Our manager has delegated authority to implement operational changes, the managing of staff and service delivery to ensure that contractual obligations are being delivered in line with National Collective of Independent Women’s Refuge (NCIWR) requirements.
To provide a service solely within New Zealand including temporary and crisis accommodation for women and young people and children who are experiencing abuse, community support and advocacy, 365/24/7 access to service.
Want to Volunteer?
Your time and skills to support the work we do is greatly appreciated by the community.
So, what do volunteers do? Help with fundraisers and events, audit incoming donations, audit refuge assets and assist with other office duties.
If you are interested in being a volunteer please contact us by email, phone or come and visit us at our office.