Mēnā kei te mōrea tō oranga, waea atu ki ngā Pirihimana 111. If you are in imminent danger, call Police on 111. Call 0800 REFUGE for the 24/7 Crisis Line
Our Services
Oronga ratonga
Ōtepoti Dunedin Whānau Refuge provides specialist family violence services to wāhine, tamariki, and whānau across the wider Ōtepoti community who are experiencing, or are affected by, family violence. Our services include 24-hour crisis response, comprehensive family violence risk assessment, safety planning, specialist advocacy, Whānau Protect alarms, court and agency navigation, and ongoing wraparound support. Where there is an immediate or significant risk to safety, assessments for emergency safe house accommodation and other protective interventions may be undertaken.
Our practice is informed by a trauma-responsive, whānau-centred approach that recognises the strengths, aspirations, and self-determination of each whānau. Grounded in the principles of manaakitanga, whanaungatanga, and Tino Rangatiratanga, we work alongside whānau to enhance safety, strengthen wellbeing, and support pathways toward healing, stability, and long-term freedom from violence.
We are committed to ensuring that wāhine, tamariki, and whānau have access to timely, culturally responsive, and professional support when they need it most. We also advocate for tāne who are seeking support to address the use of violence and create positive, lasting change in their lives and relationships. Through our Tu Tāne Tu initiative, tāne are supported to develop greater accountability, understand the impacts of their behaviour on themselves, their partners, tamariki, and whānau, and build the knowledge, skills, and strategies required to establish and maintain safe, respectful, and non-violent ways of being.
Our specialised services include a range of programmes designed to meet the diverse needs of whānau. These include wāhine-focused programmes for those with and without Protection Orders, as well as dedicated tamariki and rangatahi programmes that prioritise safety, resilience, wellbeing, and the mitigation of family violence risk.
Alongside programme delivery, our team provides specialist advocacy and support to assist whānau in navigating health, social service, justice, housing, and safety systems. We work collaboratively to ensure whānau have access to the resources, information, and supports they need to enhance safety, strengthen wellbeing, and achieve their goals.
At the heart of our mahi is a commitment to creating environments where wāhine, tamariki, rangatahi, tāne, and whānau feel heard, respected, supported, and empowered to move toward lives free from violence.
What we do
Everybody’s journey
is different!
Women | Wāhine
We support wāhine with advocacy and safety planning, alongside ongoing support grounded in safety, wellbeing, and empowerment.
We also offer programmes for those with protection orders.
Men | Tane
We support men who use violence to build accountability, develop understanding of the impact of their behaviour, and engage in pathways toward safe and non-violent change.
Children | Tamariki
We support tamariki with safe spaces, and manaakitanga nurturing their learning and emotional literacy so they can feel safe, understood, and confident in themselves.
Youth | Rangatahi
We support rangatahi with guidance, advocacy, and wellbeing support, supporting their learning and understanding of healthy relationships to build resilience and confidence during challenging times.
Families | Whānau
We support whānau through safety planning, advocacy, and ongoing support, waling alongside them to enhance safety and wellbeing
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Our Message
Ōtepoti Dunedin Whānau Refuge provides essential services to support wāhine, tamariki, and whānau experiencing whānau family violence. We offer safe and confidential crisis response, advocacy, and therapeutic services, delivering specialised support that is trauma-informed and grounded in whānau-centred practice. Ōtepoti Dunedin Whānau Refuge plays a critical role in promoting safety, empowerment, and long-term wellbeing for those affected by whānau family violence.
02
Our Values
Kaitiakitanga
A korowai of protection.We care, guide, encourage and empower our community to live lives free from whānau–family violence. Through maeaningful relationships and strong connections within our rohe, we support whānau to feel safe and supported.
Manaakitanga
Care, respect and aroha. We express hospitality, generosity and genuine respect in every interaction. Manaakitanga sits at the heart of how we walk alongside whānau as they navigate crisis and healing.
Wairuatanga
Holistic wellbeing. We honour the connection between people, their whakapapa and their environment. We actively support whānau to reconnect with identity, belonging and purpose — nurturing hope, strength and healing.
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Every whānau journey is different.
We walk alongside, at your pace.
1
Support
Immediate safety & first steps
2
Advocate
Guidance through your options
3
Strengthen
Therapeutic care for tamariki
4
Sustain
Long-term safety & stability
News & Updates
Support Our Refuge
by making a Donation
Make a Referral
If you’re a professional, agency, school, health provider or community worker wanting to refer someone for support:
