Wellbeing helplines and support and support
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Addiction support
The Alcohol Drug Helpline offers free support if you have concerns about your drinking and drug use, or someone else’s. A trained counsellor is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
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Child safety
Call Oranga Tamariki if a child or young person is unsafe, not being cared for, or separated from their parents or caregivers.
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Elder abuse
The Elder Abuse Helpline is a free service that people can contact if they or someone they know are experiencing elder abuse.
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Family violence services
- Women’s Refuge — call 0800 733 843 (0800 REFUGE) for 24-hour service advocacy and accommodation for women and their children experiencing family violence
Find out more about Women’s Refuge(external link)(external link)
- Shine domestic abuse services — free call 0508 744 633 (9am to 11pm) if you are experiencing domestic abuse, or want to know how to help someone else
Find out more about Shine’s helpline(external link)(external link)
- Family violence information line — call 0800 456 450 to find out about local services or how to help someone near you
Find out more about family violence and getting help(external link)(external link)
- Elder Abuse Helpline — call 0800 32 668 65 (0800 EA NOT OK). 24-hour service answered by registered nurses who can connect to local elder abuse specialist providers
Here are signs of elder abuse or neglect to look out for(external link)(external link)
- Shakti New Zealand — call 0800 742 584 for culturally competent support services for women, children and families of Asian, African and Middle Eastern origin who have experienced domestic violence
Find out more about Shakti New Zealand(external link)
- Women’s Refuge — call 0800 733 843 (0800 REFUGE) for 24-hour service advocacy and accommodation for women and their children experiencing family violence
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Mental wellbeing helplines
If you feel you are not coping, it is important to talk with a health professional. There are helplines available that offer support, information and help. All services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Need to Talk? — free call or text 1737 any time for support from a trained counsellor
Find out more about Need to Talk? 1737(external link)(external link)
- Youthline — call 0800 376 633, free text 234 or email talk@youthline.co.nz
Chat online or find out more at Youthline(external link)(external link)
- What's Up? — call 0800 942 8787 — a safe place for tamariki and rangatahi to talk.
Find out more about What's Up?(external link)(external link)
- Skylight — call 0800 299 100 helping children, young people and their families and whānau through tough times of change, loss, trauma and grief
Find out more about Skylight(external link)(external link)
- Lifeline — 0800 543 354 (0800 LIFELINE) or free text 4357 (HELP)
Find out more about Lifeline(external link)(external link)
- Suicide Crisis Helpline — 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO)
Find out more about the Suicide Crisis Helpline(external link)(external link)
- Depression and Anxiety Helpline — 0800 111 757 or free text 4202 to talk to a trained counsellor about how you are feeling or to ask any questions.
Find out more about the Depression and Anxiety Helpline(external link)(external link)
- Anxiety phone line — 0800 269 4389 (0800 ANXIETY)
Find out more about the Anxiety phone line(external link)(external link)
- Family Services 211 Helpline 0800 211 211 — for help finding, and direct transfer to, community-based health and social support services in your area
Visit the Family Services Directory online(external link)(external link)
- OUTline NZ — call 0800 688 5463 for confidential telephone support for sexuality or gender identity issues
Find out more about OUTline(external link)
- Need to Talk? — free call or text 1737 any time for support from a trained counsellor
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Sexual violence services
- Better Blokes — call 09 378 8812 or email manager@betterblokes.org.nz for free peer support for male survivors of sexual abuse
Find out more about Better Blokes(external link)(external link)
- Safe to Talk — sexual harm helpline. Call 0800 044 334, text 4334 or email support@safetotalk.nz
Chat to counsellors online or find out more at Safe to Talk(external link)(external link)
- Male Survivors Aotearoa New Zealand — call 0800 044 344. Offers one-to-one, peer and support groups for male survivors of sexual abuse and their significant others
Find out more about Male Survivors Aotearoa New Zealand(external link)(external link)
- Tu Wahine Trust — call 09 838 8700 for kaupapa Māori counselling, therapy and support for survivors of sexual harm (mahi tukino) and violence within whānau
Find out more about Tu Wahine Trust(external link)(external link)
- ACC Sensitive Claims Unit — call 0800 735 566 for access to services related to sexual abuse or sexual assault
Find out more about accessing services via the ACC Sensitive Claims Unit(external link)
- Better Blokes — call 09 378 8812 or email manager@betterblokes.org.nz for free peer support for male survivors of sexual abuse
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Stop harming
- Hey Bro helpline — call 0800 HeyBro (0800 439 276). Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Help for men who feel they are going to harm a loved one or whānau member
Find out more about Hey Bro(external link)(external link)
- Safe to Talk — sexual harm helpline. Call 0800 044 334, text 4334 or email support@safetotalk.nz
Chat to counsellors online or find out more at Safe to Talk(external link)(external link)
- Korowai Tumanako — text or call 022 474 7044 for a kaupapa Māori service for those with concerning or harmful sexual behaviour
Find out more about Korowai Tumanako(external link)(external link)
- Stop — support for concerning or harmful sexual behaviour
Find out more about Stop(external link)(external link)
- Need to Talk? 1737 — free call or text 1737 any time for support from a trained counsellor
Find out more about Need to Talk? 1737(external link)
- Hey Bro helpline — call 0800 HeyBro (0800 439 276). Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Help for men who feel they are going to harm a loved one or whānau member
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Support for Rainbow community / LGBTQI+
- OUTline NZ — call 0800 688 5463 for confidential telephone support for sexuality or gender identity issues
Find out more about OUTline(external link)
- OUTline NZ — call 0800 688 5463 for confidential telephone support for sexuality or gender identity issues
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Youth services
- Youthline — call 0800 376 633, free text 234 or email talk@youthline.co.nz
Chat online or find out more at Youthline(external link)(external link)
- What's Up? — call 0800 942 8787 — a safe place for tamariki and rangatahi to talk
Find out more about What's Up?(external link)(external link)
- Skylight — call 0800 299 100 helping children, young people and their families and whānau through tough times of change, loss, trauma and grief
Find out more about Skylight(external link)(external link)
- Oranga Tamariki — call 0508 325 459 (0508 FAMILY) or email contact@ot.govt.nz for concerns about children and young people
Find out more about getting in touch with Oranga Tamariki(external link)
- Youthline — call 0800 376 633, free text 234 or email talk@youthline.co.nz
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Finding a local support service
- Family Services 211 Helpline (0800 211 211) — for help finding, and direct transfer to, community-based health and social support services in your area
Visit the Family Services Directory online(external link)(external link)
- Find your local Women’s Refuge by calling 0800 743 843 (0800 REFUGE) to be linked up with an advocate in your area
The Women’s Refuge website hosts a list of refuges near you(external link)(external link)
- Te Ohaakii a Hine National Network Ending Sexual Violence Together
Find out where sexual violence support services are in your area(external link)(external link)
- Safe to Talk — sexual harm helpline. Call 0800 044 334, text 4334 or email support@safetotalk.nz
Chat to counsellors online or find out more at Safe to Talk(external link)(external link)
- Victim Support — call 0800 842 846. 24-hour service for all victims of serious crime
Visit the Victim Support website to find out how they can support victims(external link)(external link)
- Victim Information Line/Victim Centre — call 0800 650 654 or email victimscentre@justice.govt.nz
Find out more about the Victim Information Line and Victim Centre(external link)
- Family Services 211 Helpline (0800 211 211) — for help finding, and direct transfer to, community-based health and social support services in your area
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Support for Pacific people
For Pacific communities, there is targeted mental health support available via a dedicated 0800 number.
- 0800 Ola Lelei – 0800 652 535
Communication and language support
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Deaf, hearing impaired, Deafblind or speech impaired
If you are deaf, hearing impaired, Deafblind or speech impaired you can use the New Zealand Relay Service to call.
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Language support
Many government agencies have language support available, if English is not your first language and you need an interpreter.
When you call a government agency for information, ask for an interpreter in your language and wait to be connected.
Information and advice about COVID-19 is available in many languages
Financial support
Financial support
Visit the Work and Income website for urgent financial support and ongoing needs. You can apply for a main benefit online and check your eligibility for food assistance.
www.workandincome.govt.nz(external link)
0800 559 009 (MSD General Line)
0800 552 002 (Seniors 65+)
0800 88 99 00 (Students)
In MyMSD you can check your payments, tell MSD about changes and apply for a benefit or NZ Super:
You can also use the COVID-19 financial support tool on the Unite Against COVID-19 website to see what support is available to you.