Navigating Safety and Justice in Aotearoa New Zealand

Navigating Safety and Justice in Aotearoa New Zealand: Ethnic and Migrant Women’s Experiences Before, During and After the Family Court Following Disclosure of Family Violence

Publication date: April 2026

Author: Dhilum Nightingale

This report explores the lived experiences of ethnic and migrant women seeking safety through Aotearoa New Zealand’s Family Court following disclosure of family violence. Drawing on interviews with survivor-participants, lawyers, social workers, community advocates and interpreters, the report examines the barriers women face before entering the Family Court, during court proceedings, and after legal orders are made. It identifies recurring issues including language barriers, immigration insecurity, cultural isolation, fragmented legal and social support, and inconsistent access to culturally responsive and trauma-informed practice.

The report finds that many ethnic and migrant women are not fully seen, heard, or understood, and are unable to safely and meaningfully access legal protection through the Family Court and surrounding systems. In some cases, immigration status itself becomes a tool of coercion and control, further preventing help-seeking. Alongside documenting these experiences, it offers a detailed series of recommendations for reform aimed at improving pathways to safety and justice for women and children in Aotearoa New Zealand.