Need help now?
If you are in immediate danger dial ✆111.
If you are not in immediate danger, but need help, call ✆0800 28 48 26 to speak to one of our team.
We support anyone
Aviva supports ALL people affected by violence, regardless of age, gender, faith, ethnicity or sexual orientation.
All of our services are free and available to all people who meet our criteria; you do not need to enter a Safe House or to have left your relationship to access our services.
We provide support in Christchurch, Selwyn, Ashburton, and North Canterbury.
How can Aviva help?
Aviva offers high-quality support and intervention. We provide:
- individually tailored advice, advocacy and safety planning from a qualified family violence specialist
- our Ministry of Justice approved family violence education programme, Courageous Steps
- support to ensure you have safe accommodation
- safe@home home security improvements for those at highest risk of repeat family violence
- advice and information on legal, health and financial issues
- help applying for a Protection or Parenting Order
- access to support from other agencies and services, such as advocating for you in accessing financial support or linking to Kainga Ora
- support for the whole family, including children (Tamariki Services), youth (Rangatahi Services) and the user of violence (ReachOut)
Courageous Steps Education Programme
Courageous Steps is a space for sharing and connecting with others with similar experiences.
In this 10-week programme, you will:
- gain an understanding of abuse, power and control
- untangle the myths and misconceptions of family violence
- develop plans to keep yourself and your family safe
- reestablish your wellbeing and regain your power
- reflect on your journey
- learn to create healthy relationships
- create safer futures for your children
- learn where to go from here
Courageous Steps can be delivered in a group setting or individually.
We also offer our accessible education programme, Aoraki Rōpū. The group is smaller, shorter and delivers the information in a variety of ways to better fit the diverse needs of people with disabilities.
Download our Courageous Steps brochure [PDF 6576 KB].
How to get support
- Call us on ✆0800 28 48 26 or ✆(03) 378 3847 - 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for people in Canterbury
- Email ✉enquiries@aviva.org.nz (this inbox is checked Monday-Friday, 9-5)
- Walk-in Support available in Christchurch (Unit 4, Amuri Park, 25 Churchill St, Christchurch Central) Monday to Friday, 9am-4pm, or in Rangiora (Level 1, LAM House, 112 High St) Thursday, 9am-3pm. We recommend calling our support line ahead of time to ensure availability and avoid waiting.
- If you are a social service or other referring agency, please complete a referral form and forward to Aviva by email
“Now I look forward to the future rather than fearing it.” - Aviva client