Welcome to the ‘Sanity’ Library that is a space that will grow daily and connect you to family violence information for you to access.
1. “New Research Reveals Long-Term Harm and Systemic Failures” (Women’s Refuge, 2025)
This groundbreaking report based on the lived experiences of over 1,700 victims highlights that leaving a partner does not end the violence.
- Key Findings: 89% of victims reported worsened mental health, and 63% ended up in debt due to economic abuse.
- Source: Women’s Refuge New Zealand
2. “Analysis of Te Aorerekura as a Family Wellbeing Policy” (ANZSW Journal, 2025)
This critical analysis evaluates the first phase (2021–2024) of New Zealand’s 25-year national strategy to eliminate family violence.
- Key Findings: The research emphasizes that while the policy framework is “robust and holistic,” there is an urgent need for more community-led and workplace-integrated responses.
- Source: Aotearoa New Zealand Social Work Journal
3. “Long-term Impacts of Family Violence Economic Abuse” (Good Shepherd NZ, 2025)
Released in full in early 2025, this report shines a light on how coercive control restricts financial freedom long after a relationship ends.
- Key Findings: 60% of victims identified at least one form of economic harm, with an average of $22,000 of coerced debt per person.
- Source: Good Shepherd New Zealand
4. The NZ Family Violence Clearinghouse (NZFVC)
The National Research Hub The NZ Family Violence Clearinghouse is the national centre for research and information on family and sexual violence in Aotearoa. Based at the University of Auckland, they provide the “single source of truth” for practitioners, researchers, and the public.
- What they offer: Access to the latest Data Summaries, legislative updates, and a massive Library of New Zealand-specific research.
5. The Backbone Collective
The Voice of Lived Experience The Backbone Collective is a survivor-led advocacy organisation that functions as a “watchdog” for the system. They were founded to amplify the voices of women who have experienced the family violence system and to highlight where those systems—such as the Family Court or Police—are failing to keep people safe.
- What they offer: Independent Reports based directly on the feedback of survivors, and a platform for victims to share their experiences of systemic failure.
Staying Safe and Sane 