Economic harm and abuse involves making, or attempting to make, a person financially dependent on another person.
This can include by maintaining total control over financial resources, withholding access to money, and/or forbidding attendance at school or employment.
Economic abuse is a subset of psychological abuse under the Family Violence Act 2018.
2021 research from the University of Auckland that compared data from face-to-face surveys of New Zealand women conducted in 2003 and 2019 found that the proportion of women who reported economic abuse over their lifetimes increased from 4.5% in the 2003 study to 8.9% in the 2019 study.
In August 2024 as part of Money Month, the Ministry collaborated with Good Shepherd New Zealand to host a webinar about healthy financial relationships to help people achieve and maintain a healthy financial relationship and gain some practical tools to help have more effective and positive money conversations through their Healthy Financial Relationships Toolkit.
Watch the webinar
Economic harm and abuse are not acceptable, and help is available:
- Call New Zealand Police on 111 if you, or someone you know, is in danger.
- Contact Good Shepherd New Zealand for advice and support.
- Visit the Are You OK? website to find available support services.
- Call the Family violence helpline on 0800 456 450.
- Contact a refuge service, such as Women’s Refuge on 0800 733 843 (0800 REFUGE), Shine domestic abuse services on 0504 744 633.