Women's Refuge New Zealand

What Women's Refuge New Zealand does

Women's Refuge New Zealand is a non-profit charitable agency, legally constituted as the National Collective of Independent Women's Refuges Inc, that delivers crisis intervention, safe housing, and advocacy services for women and children experiencing family violence across New Zealand. Founded in 1973 as the country's first Women's Refuge, the organisation operates through a nationwide network of 41 physical refuges spanning Kaitaia to Invercargill, supported by a free 24-hour crisis-line (0800 REFUGE) that fields an average of 71 calls per day and refers approximately 50,000 women and children to services annually. Core service offerings include safe accommodation, advocacy across healthcare, legal, MSD/budgeting, protection orders, education, and basic-needs support, plus specialist child advocacy through the Kids in the Middle programme and the Whānau Protect prevention initiative. The organisation runs original research programmes (Safer When, Safer How; Traumatic Brain Injury studies) and education curricula for communities.

The business model is donation-and-grant-funded rather than revenue-generating. Three primary funding streams are: individual donations anchored by the Safe Night Beds campaign ($20 per night of safe accommodation), corporate partnerships (most notably Contact Energy's $400,000+ in-kind electricity and broadband plus recurring grants, and The Warehouse's product donations to 2,000+ families annually), and government contracts through Te Puna Aonui and related social-development programmes including the Family Violence Help Portal. The organisation is not technology-focused — there is no proprietary platform, API, SDK, or AI system; digital assets consist of the Kowhai Connect information portal, website with 'shielded' safety functionality, and online safety resources. Marketing is community-led through earned media, donated advertising (Trade Me, EightyOne creative), and social channels.

Name

Women's Refuge New Zealand

Legal name

National Collective of Independent Women's Refuges Inc

Website

https://womensrefuge.org.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Women's Refuge New Zealand is a non-profit founded in 1973 that delivers crisis-line support, safe housing through 41 refuges, advocacy, education, and original research for women and children experiencing family violence across New Zealand, funded by donations, corporate partnerships, and government contracts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Family Violence Support Services

NAICS

Temporary Shelters (624221), Community Housing Services (62422), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC), Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAO), Protection Services (GBV, Child Protection, Legal Aid) (BPADADAH)

Keywords

• Family violence support
• Crisis intervention services
• Domestic violence shelter
• Women's advocacy services
• Community social services

Headquarters

HQ city

Wellington

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: Individual donations from New Zealanders supporting the Safe Night Bed campaign and general operations. A Safe Night costs $20 and provides a night of safety, security, hot meals and advice for women and children.
2. Corporate Partnerships: Major corporate partnerships with Contact Energy (providing free electricity/broadband worth $400,000+, donations, research funding) and The Warehouse (product donations for clients).
3. Government Funding: Government funding through Te Puna Aonui and various social development programs supporting family violence initiatives, including the Family Violence Help Portal.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Women's Refuge New Zealand is a nonprofit charitable organisation that provides 24/7 crisis support, safe housing, and comprehensive advocacy services for women and children experiencing family violence in Aotearoa New Zealand. It operates a nationwide network of 41 refuges and a free crisis-line (0800 REFUGE), delivering services such as safety planning, healthcare and legal advocacy, counselling, protection orders, budgeting support, childcare advocacy, and education programmes. The organisation also conducts original research on family violence and advocates for systemic policy change.

Product overview

Women's Refuge New Zealand operates as a nationwide social service organisation (not a technology company) offering a portfolio of crisis support services for women and children experiencing family violence. The core services include a 24-hour crisisline (0800 REFUGE), a network of 41 refuges providing safe accommodation and comprehensive advocacy support, and the Safe Night Beds fundraising campaign. The organisation also conducts original research including the Safer When, Safer How research programme, produces practice resources on topics like Traumatic Brain Injury and family violence risk assessment, and delivers community education programmes. Services are complemented by digital safety resources and the Kowhai Connect portal. The organisation advocates for policy change and partners with organisations like Contact Energy for operational support, but does not offer a technology product or platform with integrations, APIs, or AI capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Safe Night Beds: A fundraising campaign allowing New Zealanders to purchase a Safe Night ($20) for women and children escaping family violence. A Safe Night provides a clean bed, hot meals, secure transport, and support.
• It Takes Seven
• Whānau Protect

Products and services

• 24hr Crisisline Free, 24-hour nationwide crisis telephone line providing immediate safety planning, emotional support, and referral services for women and children experiencing family violence in New Zealand.
• Refuge Accommodation Network Nationwide network of 41 refuges across New Zealand providing free safe housing, advocacy support, healthcare and MSD access, budgeting advice, legal assistance, protection orders, counselling, and basic needs (food, clothing) for women and children escaping family violence.
• Safe Night Beds Fundraising/donation programme in which members of the public purchase a Safe Night ($20) to provide a clean bed, hot meals, secure transport, and support for a woman and her children at a Women's Refuge.
• Education Programmes Family violence awareness, prevention, and response education programmes delivered by Women's Refuge to communities, schools, and organisations across New Zealand.
• Kids in the Middle Child Advocacy Programme Specialist child advocacy programme providing dedicated counselling, group programmes, and one-on-one support to children who have witnessed or experienced family violence while their mothers are supported at Women's Refuge.
• Whānau Protect Whānau Protect is Women's Refuge's family violence prevention and protection service, focused on whānau-centred safety and intervention across New Zealand communities.
• Safer When, Safer How Research Programme Multi-phase original research programme analysing family violence risk assessment data and community surveys to determine what works to make women safer, producing evidence-based insights for the sector.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50,000 women and children referred annually, 71 crisis calls answered daily, 60,821 bednights provided in last 12 months

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• The WarehousecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 May 2024Ongoing partnership where The Warehouse's Good One health and body product range is donated to Women's Refuge clients. Products including shampoo, body wash, and other essentials provided to over 2,000 families annually seeking assistance from Women's Refuge.
• Life Education TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2024Campaign partner for 'The Wolf and the Hocus Pocus' child protection book initiative, supporting the campaign to empower children to speak out about abuse.
• Save the Children New ZealandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2024Campaign partner for 'The Wolf and the Hocus Pocus' child protection book initiative, working with Women’s Refuge and Life Education Trust to break the culture of silence around abuse.
• Contact EnergyflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2022Major strategic partnership including: $400,000+ gifted in electricity and broadband to refuges; funded the Safer When, Safer How research programme; matching donations up to $30,000 for Safe Night campaigns; enabled clients to set up electricity accounts regardless of credit history; added 'shielded' functionality to website for victim safety.
• Trade MeminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 December 2019Donated $45,000 worth of advertising for the Gift a Safe Night campaign launch to help Women's Refuge raise awareness and funds.
• EightyOneminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 December 2019Wellington-based creative marketing agency that helped develop the new campaign approach, positioning Women's Refuge as an accommodation provider rather than a traditional charity.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Refuge (UK): UK-based charity supporting women and children experiencing domestic violence through refuges, helplines, and advocacy. Closely comparable service model (refuges + crisis line + advocacy) and nonprofit funding structure.
• Aviva Families (Aviva NZ): New Zealand nonprofit providing services for women, children, and families affected by family violence and sexual abuse. Directly comparable mission, geography, and service delivery model including safe housing and crisis support.
• National Domestic Violence Hotline (US): US 24/7 crisis intervention and referral service for domestic violence victims. Closely comparable as a high-traffic crisis-line operator with referral infrastructure and nonprofit funding.
• DVConnect (Australia): Queensland-based domestic and family violence service providing crisis lines, safe accommodation, and counselling. Comparable regional player with similar helpline + refuge service model in the Australasian market.
• Shine NZ: New Zealand specialist family violence prevention organization providing helpline, education, and behavior-change programmes. Directly comparable as a NZ-based family violence service provider competing for government contracts and donor dollars.
• Safe Horizon (US): US nonprofit providing domestic violence, child abuse, and crime victim support services including shelters and hotlines. Comparable nonprofit operating shelters, crisis lines, and advocacy at meaningful scale.
• Women's Aid (UK): UK federation of services supporting women and children experiencing domestic abuse. Comparable as a national umbrella organization coordinating a network of refuges and providing crisis-line services.

Broad incumbents

• YWCA New Zealand: New Zealand YWCA operates across multiple areas including women's empowerment, family services, and affordable housing. Comparable as a broader women's services organization with overlap in housing and family support service categories.
• Oranga Tamariki (Ministry for Children): New Zealand government agency responsible for child welfare and family services. Adjacent ecosystem player that Women's Refuge partners with and refers into; sets policy direction affecting the sector.

Emerging players

• Save the Children New Zealand: International NGO with NZ operations focused on children's rights including child protection. Existing campaign partner with Women's Refuge; comparable as a child-focused family violence prevention organization.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/womensrefugenz
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCwPZuTrxZMIMsb1zFr7B1qg
• Facebookfacebook.com/womensrefugenz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-collective-of-independent-women-s-refuges
• Instagraminstagram.com/womensrefugenz

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Women's Refuge New Zealand