Increasing the safety of women, so they live without fear of violence, is a priority for the Ministry. The focus of primary prevention is on stopping violence against wāhine women and kōtiro girls before it occurs so they have better futures and lives. Primary prevention is an emerging field of practice in New Zealand. This paper highlights growing international evidence that violence against women is predictable and preventable.

The purpose of this paper is to generate discussion about primary prevention of violence and how these approaches can be effectively implemented in New Zealand.