Family violence (previously referred to as domestic violence) is hurting a family member or someone you're in a close personal relationship with. Family violence can be hurting somone physically. It can also be hurting someone emotionally, psychologically, financially and/or sexually.
Family violence can happen in many kinds of relationships, including:
husbands and wives
civil union partners
de facto (living together) partners
people who are biological parents of the same person
people related by blood
people related through marriage, civil union, de facto relationships or adoption
members of the same family/whānau or other culturally recognised family group
flatmates or other people who live in the same house or flat
people in a close personal relationship who don’t live together
people in care/carer relationships if it's also a close personal relationship
If you’re unsure about whether you’re experiencing family violence, you can learn more and take the Positive Relationship quiz at areyouok.org.nz(external link)
A Protection Order has two main conditions: no violence and no contact with the people protected by the Order. A Protection Order can be in place even if you're living with the person who's been violent (the respondent).
A Property Order says who can live in a specific house or flat. A Furniture Order says who can keep the furniture including appliances, like a fridge and beds.
Safety services are designed to help you deal with the effects of the violence, feel more confident and move forward with your life. They'll explain how to keep safe and provide practical information about how Protection Orders work.
A Police Safety Order (PSO) may be issued by Police when they attend a family violence incident. The PSO means the person being violent must leave the home temporarily, even if they own the property and live there.