Specialist family violence services for the Coast community.

West Coast Women’s Refuge is the Coast’s specialist family violence service, supporting individuals and whānau experiencing family violence across the whole of the West Coast.

Our work is grounded in confidentiality, compassion, understanding, dignity, safety, and practical support.

We walk alongside people at their own pace while helping create safer, violence-free futures for our community.

Who We Are

Supporting the Coast since 1983

West Coast Women’s Refuge was established in 1983 to support women and children living with family violence. In 1986, the organisation became an incorporated society under the name West Coast Women’s Refuge.

Today, our service supports women, tamariki, tāne, whānau, and members of the takatāpui rainbow community across the Coast.

We support people experiencing family violence, as well as people seeking support to change violent or harmful behaviour and create safer futures for themselves and their whānau.

We understand that family violence affects every part of a person’s life — safety, wellbeing, confidence, relationships, parenting, housing, employment, and connection to community.

That is why our work goes beyond crisis response alone.

We provide specialist support that helps people rebuild safety, restore mana, dignity, stability, and hope.

Our Approach

We walk alongside people

At West Coast Women’s Refuge, we believe support should strengthen people, not take power away from them.

Our approach is client-led, mana-enhancing, and grounded in partnership.

This means:

  • We listen without judgement

  • We respect people’s choices and pace

  • We provide information so people can make informed decisions

  • We focus on practical safety and support

  • We walk alongside individuals and whānau rather than taking over

We know many people reaching out are carrying fear, shame, confusion, and exhaustion.

Our role is to create a safe, calm space where people feel heard, respected, and supported.

Specialist Family Violence Service

Family violence expertise matters

West Coast Women’s Refuge is the only specialist family violence service on the Coast.

Our team includes trained specialists working across women’s advocacy, child advocacy, crisis response, programme facilitation, male advocacy, residential support, and community support services.

We support people experiencing many forms of family violence, including:

  • Physical violence

  • Psychological abuse

  • Coercive control

  • Financial abuse

  • Sexual violence

  • Intimidation and manipulation

  • Isolation and controlling behaviour

We also support people navigating the systems that often come alongside family violence, including Police, courts, Oranga Tamariki, WINZ, housing, and financial hardship.

Connected To Community

Deeply connected to the Coast

Our service covers the full West Coast region, including Karamea to Haast, Arthur’s Pass, Inangahua, and Maruia, with offices in Greymouth and Westport.

We are active members of our local community and work closely alongside agencies, organisations, networks, and community groups across the Coast.

We believe lasting change happens through strong relationships, trusted partnerships, and communities working together.

Our Vision

Creating safer futures for the Coast

We believe every person deserves to feel safe, valued, and connected, living a life free from family violence.

Our vision is to help bring family violence out of the shadows while creating safer pathways forward for individuals, whānau, and future generations across the Coast.

Every day, our team shows up because we believe people deserve more than survival.

They deserve safety, healing, connection, and the opportunity to move forward with strength and hope.

Partnership

Working alongside trusted organisations

Supporting people experiencing family violence often requires strong collaboration and trusted relationships.

We work in partnership with a range of local and national organisations, agencies, and specialist services to help ensure people receive the support they need when they need it.

This includes relationships with:

  • Local community organisations

  • Government agencies

  • Schools and health providers

  • Legal support services

  • National Women’s Refuge networks

  • Specialist safety service providers

Need support or want to learn more?

Whether you are looking for support, worried about someone else, or wanting to understand more about family violence, our team is here to help.

🏳️‍🌈 Everyone deserves safety. Everyone belongs here.

Womens Refuge West Coast is an affiliated member of the Women’s Refuge National Collective, working alongside refuges across Aotearoa to support women and whānau experiencing family violence.

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