Economic Abuse

Economic abuse is a form of family violence where an individual restricts, controls, or exploits your financial resources to create dependency and limit your freedom.

In Aotearoa, the Family Violence Act 2018 specifically recognizes economic abuse as a form of psychological abuse. This means it can be used as legal grounds for a Protection Order, even if there is no physical violence.

1. Identifying the “Invisible” Signs

Economic abuse often starts subtly and is justified as “budgeting” or “taking care of the bills.” Common tactics in NZ include:

Restricting Access: Only giving you an “allowance,” refusing to let you have your own bank account, or hiding family assets/income.
Exploitation: Forcing you to take out loans or credit cards in your name, then refusing to pay them back (leaving your credit score ruined).
Employment Interference: Stopping you from going to work, sabotaging your job interviews, or demanding you quit your job so you have no independent income.
Child Support Manipulation: Under-reporting income or “working for cash” to avoid paying fair child support.
Property Damage: Intentionally breaking things you own (like your phone or car) so you have to spend your limited money on repairs.

2. Immediate Financial Help

If you are leaving a violent relationship or are currently trapped, there are specialized “fast-track” funds available in NZ:

Source	Type of Help	How to Get It
Work and Income (MSD)	Family Violence Grant	Call 0800 559 009. Ask for a “Family Violence Intervention” specialist. They can help with moving costs, bond, and emergency food.
ACC Sensitive Claims	Loss of Earnings (LOPE)	If sexual violence (past or present) prevents you from working, ACC can pay up to 80% of your income.
Victim Support	VAS Grant	If a police report is made, you may get a lump sum to replace items taken for evidence or to fix broken windows/locks.
Good Shepherd NZ	No-Interest Loans	They provide $1,500–$5,000 loans with 0% interest for essential items (fridges, cars, bond) to help survivors get back on their feet.

3. Banking Protections

New Zealand banks have a “Code of Practice” for customers experiencing economic harm. You can talk to your bank’s specialist “Vulnerability” or “Care” team.

Separate Accounts: They can help you open a new, private account that the abuser cannot see or access.
Safety with Joint Debt: Banks can sometimes “freeze” joint accounts or credit cards so the abuser cannot run up more debt in your name.
Discreet Communication: You can tell your bank to only contact you via a specific safe number or email, and to never send physical mail to your home.

4. Reclaiming Your Credit and Future

Economic abuse often leaves you with a “bad” credit rating, making it hard to rent a house or get a phone plan.

Good Shepherd NZ (Family Violence Economic Harm Service): They are the primary specialists in NZ for this. They can advocate on your behalf with power companies, telcos, and banks to get “coerced debt” waived or managed.
Insolvency & Debt: If you have been forced into massive debt, a Financial Mentor (MoneyTalks – 0800 345 123) can help you look at options like a Summary Instalment Order or a No Asset Procedure.

Key Resources for Economic Abuse

Good Shepherd NZ (0800 466 370 – Option 4): The experts in recovering from economic harm.
MoneyTalks (0800 345 123): Free, confidential financial mentoring for anyone in NZ.
Work and Income – Escaping Family Violence: Search their website for “Relocation” or “Re-establishment” grants.

When you call your bank in New Zealand, you don’t need to speak to a general teller. Every major NZ bank (ANZ, ASB, BNZ, Westpac, Kiwibank) has a Specialist Vulnerability or Financial Hardship team trained specifically in family violence and economic abuse.

These scripts are designed to get you past the front line and straight to a specialist who understands Safety First protocols.

1. The “Initial Contact” Script

Use this to get through the general call center or to the person at the front desk.

The Script: “I am calling to speak with your Specialist Vulnerability Team or a manager regarding a safety issue. I am experiencing family harm and need to secure my banking privately. I need to ensure this conversation and any changes made are not visible to [Partner’s Name/Joint Account Holder].”

2. The “New Private Account” Script

Use this once you are speaking with the specialist to set up a “Lifeboat” account.

The Script: *”I need to open a new, sole-name transaction account that is completely separate from my existing joint profiles. Please ensure:
- No Paper Mail: Set all correspondence to ‘Online Only’ using this specific safe email: [Your Safe Email].
- Digital Shadow: Ensure this new account does not show up if someone logs into our joint internet banking profile.
- Alerts: Disable any ‘push notifications’ to shared devices.”*

3. The “Securing My Income” Script

Use this if your wages, benefit, or ACC payments are currently going into a joint account.

The Script: “My income is currently being redirected into a joint account I cannot safely access. I have set up a new private account. Can you help me ensure that my automatic payments and direct debits are moved over, and confirm that the joint account holder will not receive a notification of these specific changes?”

4. The “Joint Debt/Credit Card” Script

Use this if you are worried the other person will “max out” a joint card or loan to punish you.

The Script: “I am concerned about coerced debt. We have a joint [Credit Card/Overdraft], and I am at risk of financial harm. I would like to request that this account be ‘Restricted’ or ‘Frozen’ so no further debt can be added while I seek legal advice. Please note that I am acting under the Family Violence Act protections for economic harm.”

Critical Safety Tips for Banking in NZ

The “Safe Word”: You can ask the bank to put a “Note” on your file that requires a specific password or “Safe Word” before anyone (including you) can make changes. This prevents the abuser from calling up and pretending to be you.
The “Address of Record”: If you have moved to a refuge or a friend’s house, do not give the bank your new physical address if you think there is any risk of it appearing on a statement. Use the bank’s own branch address as your “Postal Address” or use a PO Box.
Location Tracking: If you use the bank’s mobile app, go into your phone settings and Turn Off Location Sharing for that app so your movements aren’t tracked.

Banking Specialist Contacts (NZ)

If you can’t find the number, ask for these specific teams:

ANZ: Customer Vulnerability Team
ASB: Extra Care Team
BNZ: Vulnerable Customer Support
Westpac: Customer Care / Vulnerability Team
Kiwibank: Specialized Customer Support

In New Zealand, all major banks have specialist teams trained to handle family violence and economic abuse. These teams are separate from general customer service and follow strict “safety first” protocols to ensure your information is not shared with an abuser.

1. The Big Five (Specialist Teams)

Bank	Team Name	Dedicated Phone Number
ANZ	Customer Vulnerability Team	0800 269 296 (Ask for Vulnerability Team)
ASB	Extra Care Team	0800 700 720 (Mon–Fri, 8am–5pm)
BNZ	BNZ Care	0800 375 007 (Mon–Fri, 8am–6pm)
Westpac	Financial Solutions / Care	0800 772 771 (Mon–Fri, 8am–5pm)
Kiwibank	Specialized Support	0800 487 888 (Ask for Specialist Team)

2. Regional & Smaller Banks

If your bank is not listed above, use their primary “Additional Care” or “Fraud” lines to reach a specialist.

TSB Bank: Call 0800 872 226 and ask for “Additional Care & Support.”
The Co-operative Bank: Call 0800 554 554 and ask for the “Vulnerability Specialist.”
SBS Bank: Call 0800 727 2265 (General Line) or 0800 850 331 (Complaints/Resolution Team).
Heartland Bank: Call 0800 85 20 20 and ask for the “Customer Advocacy” specialist.

Critical Phone Safety Tip

If you are calling from a shared phone or suspect your phone might be checked:

Delete the call from your “Recent Calls” log immediately after hanging up.
Save the number under a neutral name like “Insurance” or “Dentist” if you need to keep it in your contacts.
Use a “Safe Word”: When speaking to the specialist, ask them to set a unique password on your account that is different from your usual security questions. This stops anyone else from calling in and pretending to be you.

What to have ready before you call

Your Account Number (if you know it).
A Safe Email Address (one the abuser cannot access).
A Safe Phone Number for them to call you back on (and a time when you are sure you will be alone).

One of the most effective ways to break the cycle of economic dependency is through No-Interest Loans (NILs), primarily offered in New Zealand by Good Shepherd NZ in partnership with The Salvation Army and BNZ. Unlike standard bank loans or high-interest “payday” lenders, these loans are specifically designed for people on limited incomes who need to purchase essential items—such as a fridge, a computer for work or study, or a safe car—without being trapped by mounting debt. Because there is 0% interest and no fees, you only ever pay back exactly what you borrow, usually in small, manageable installments that fit your actual budget.

For survivors of family violence, these loans serve as a “lifeboat” for rebuilding independence. They can be used for critical recovery needs like securing a bond for a new rental property, covering emergency dental or medical costs, or even consolidating high-interest debts that were forced upon you by an abuser (coerced debt). The application process is “judgment-free” and includes a consultation with a specialist coach who understands the impact of trauma and can advocate on your behalf with other creditors or banks to help clear the “fog” of your financial situation.