Overview

Aviva is a Canterbury-based, specialist family and sexual violence agency, which is dedicated to making New Zealand Aotearoa a violence-free home for all who live here. Grounded within a spirit of positivity and potential, Aviva offers an extensive range of integrated, specialist services that support all individuals and family members to overcome family and sexual violence and achieve wellbeing – together or apart. Aviva has a long history of driving societal and social change, having been the founding refuge in New Zealand in 1973 (as Christchurch Women’s refuge). The commitment to keep improving New Zealand’s response to family violence and, ultimately to see New Zealand Aoteroa become violence-free, has driven Aviva to create a wide range of innovative services, all of which are offered in the belief that everyone has the potential to overcome the effects of inter-personal violence, with the right support. Currently Aviva offers an extensive and unique range of services which support children, young people and adults who have experienced violence, or used it (often both), to overcome their experiences and forge violence-free lives and futures. Our services include 24-hour phone support; education programmes; support, advocacy and advice; providing access to temporary accommodation; ReachOut early intervention for men using, or at risks of using, violence; Shine safe@home home security upgrades; Specialist Peer Support from those with lived experience; No and Low Interest Loans; and 24-hour sexual assault support. All of our services are provided by qualified staff and are supported by individuals who have undergone their own personal journeys of change. We offer a non-judgmental, caring space where we help people first to become safe, and then to continue their journey to wider wellbeing.