Local violence networks

There are more than 40 local violence networks in Aotearoa. Local violence networks bring together people who work at the local level to address family violence and sexual violence from both community and government organisations.

Formerly known as the Te Rito Networks, these networks are made up of a range of government and community agencies who work in family violence and sexual violence. The networks carry out a range of activities that vary from one network to the next. This can include coordinating local agency responses and services, offering training, supporting projects that help people experiencing violence, raising awareness, mobilising communities to prevent and respond to violence in their community, and building relationships.

Find a local network

There are more than 40 networks throughout Aotearoa.

Find a local network

Reports about the local networks

Local community-based networks focused on violence have been present and active in Aotearoa for decades. Over the last 20 years a number of reports have documented how the networks function and their value and benefit to communities.

The Strengthening Local and Regional Networks (2024) report summarises findings from a Vine project that looked at how local and regional family violence and sexual violence networks could be strengthened. This work was identified by the Systems Working Group as part of Te Aorerekura Action 5 and is part of building understanding across government and the family and sexual violence sectors about working together on the implementation and monitoring of Te Aorerekura. It was commissioned by Te Puna Aonui.

The Report of the Expert Advisory Group on Family Violence (2013) made recommendations about the Family Violence Networks.

About Family Violence Networks in New Zealand (June 2012) is briefing developed for family violence network members, and summarises some of the material that informed the 'Coordinated community action' workshops run by the It’s not OK family violence prevention campaign.

Family Violence Networks – background and key messages (March 2012) provides a brief 2-page background on family violence networks.

The 2009 review of Te Rito found that the Family Violence Networks had contributed to greater leadership, more effective services, enhanced safety and accountability, changing attitudes and behaviours and sustained collaborations.

Building collaborations to eliminate family violence: facilitators, barriers and good practice (2012) is Vine’s first issues paper. It focused on Building collaborations to eliminate family violence. It provides a broad perspective on best-practice principles and challenges relating to coordinated collaborative initiatives. It explored the state of collaborative work on family violence in Aotearoa at the time drawing on a literature review and discussions with key informants. The funding for the preparation of this Issues Paper was provided by the Families Commission. Tools to support multi-agency collaboration is a compilation of tools at the time the issues paper was developed.