Hinengakau Maatua Whangai Trust (HMWT) was established in 1983 to
help families and whanau navigate the Justice system and work alongside
the court system and individuals and family/whanau as a voluntary service.
At this time we just did what needed to be done not realizing that this was
to become recognised in later years as delivering strength based social
services. This went on for more than a decade until 1995 when HMWT
was constituted under the Charitable Trust Act 1957 and was able to
access appropriate resources and funding to provide a stronger level of

Specialist Family Violence Services

Specialist family violence services are provided by skilled kaimahi/staff whose sole or main role is focused on working with people experiencing family violence.

A summary of specialist family violence services is provided under each of the headings below. More detailed information can be obtained by contacting the agency.

Crisis Support for Men

• Protection order applications help

Non-Violence Services for Men

These services and programmes are suitable for men who are using violence or concerned about their risk of using violence or want to find better ways to maintain healthy relationships.

• Risk management (safety planning) (self refer)
• Social work (self refer)

Victim/Survivor Support for Men

These services are for men who are current or past victims/survivors of family violence. Violence isn’t only physical. It includes verbal, emotional and financial abuse.

• Safety services (self refer)
• Social work (self refer)
• Group programme (self refer)

Crisis Support for Women

• After-hours crisis line
• Refuge/emergency accommodation
• Protection order applications help

Non-Violence Services for Women

These services and programmes are suitable for women who are using violence or concerned about their risk of using violence or want to find better ways to maintain healthy relationships.

• Risk management (safety planning) (self refer)
• Social work (self refer)

Victim/Survivor Support for Women

These services are for women who are current or past victims/survivors of family violence. Violence isn’t only physical. It includes verbal, emotional and financial abuse.

• Safety services (self refer)
• Group programme (self refer)
• Individual counselling (self refer)
• Social work (self refer)
• Safety services (Court refer)
• Group programme (Court refer)
• Individual programme (Court refer)

Couples, Whānau & Family Services

These services and programmes are suitable for couples, whānau and families who have been impacted by family violence. Some services may only be available if it is deemed safe to offer them.

• Couples counselling
• Maori whanau hui
• Whanau Ora services
• Whanau Group Conferencing (Oranga Tamariki)
• Whanau Resilience (specifically for Maori)
• Whanau Social Work
• Family group hui/meetings
• Family Group Conferencing (Oranga Tamariki)
• Family social work support
• Whanau Resilience (not specifically for Maori)
• Parenting programmes for men
• Parenting programmes for women
• Parenting support services
• Parenting Through Separation (Family Court)

Children’s and Youth Services

These services and programmes are suitable for children and young people who are victims/have witnessed violence . Some age limits may apply depending upon the type of service to be provided.

• Safety planning (self refer)
• Individual counselling or support (self refer)
• Social work (self refer)
• Group-based programmes -victims/survivors

These services and programmes are suitable for children and young people who are using violence/displaying troubling behaviours. Some age limits may apply depending upon the type of service to be provided.

• Risk management (safety planning) (self refer)
• Individual counselling or non-violence programme (self refer)
• Group-based non-violence programme (self refer)
• Social work (self refer)