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The Centre for Family Violence and Sexual Violence Prevention

Family Violence Multi-Agency Responses
Working better together to support whānau and families

Evidence and Reports

There are strong examples of effective multi‑agency responses to family violence across Aotearoa New Zealand. But approaches vary by location.

This results in:

  • differences in the quality and range of services available
  • inconsistent approaches to assessing and managing risk
  • uneven levels of support for individuals, families and whānau affected by family violence, which can affect the safety of victims-survivors and access to help.

The current state of multi-agency responses to family violence report(external link) shaped the Keeping People Safe work programme.

Reports released March 2026 

Overview  

The Centre commissioned an independent evaluation of four local multi-agency responses to family violence to understand what drives valued outcomes most for people affected by violence and the monetary value of investing in this approach. 

Across all sites, better outcomes were achieved when agencies worked closely together, built a shared understanding of risk, responded quickly after incidents, reduced barriers to safety, and stayed alongside whānau to support lasting change.  

The evaluation found a strong social return, with $4.07 in social value generated for every dollar spent using outcomes data from Canterbury. 

Overall, the findings from the multi-agency responses in Canterbury, Wairoa, Tairāwhiti and Rotorua were positive. All multi-agency responses to family violence reported immediate safety and risk reduction, stabilised living conditions, stronger engagement and trust, better protection for tamariki and early signs of behaviour change and accountability among people who use violence.   

The evaluation includes eight system-level recommendations that would further strengthen multi-agency responses, some of which are already being progressed through the Keeping People Safe programme and Te Aorerekura Action Plan 2025–2030.

Reports

A short, high-level summary of the key findings and recommendations from the evaluation. 

Outcomes Evaluation Overview (quick read) [PDF, 338 KB]

This report brings together the findings of an independent evaluation of four multi-agency responses to family violence, including the case studies, social return on investment analysis, and system level recommendations. It provides the overall analysis of what works and how multi-agency responses to family violence can be strengthened.  

Multi-agency Responses - Outcomes Evaluation [PDF, 1.5 MB]

This report examines the social return on investment of a multi-agency response to family violence, using outcomes data from the Canterbury Integrated Safety Response. It estimates the social value created by reducing harm, improving safety, and preventing long-term impacts for children. 

Multi-agency Responses - Social Return on Investment (SROI) Report [PDF, 1.3 MB]

This report presents four in-depth case studies showing how multi-agency responses to family violence work in practice across different communities (Canterbury, Wairoa, Tairāwhiti, and Rotorua). It brings together whānau experiences, local context, and service perspectives to illustrate what supports safety, wellbeing, and lasting change. 

Multi-agency Responses - Case Studies Report [PDF, 7.4 MB]

Multi-Agency Responses: Outcomes Evaluation Videos

An independent outcomes evaluation of multi-agency responses found that well‑designed, coordinated responses can deliver significant benefits for people affected by violence and for the wider system. The evaluation showed improvements in safety, wellbeing, and engagement for victim‑survivors, tamariki and rangatahi, and identified early but valued changes for people who use violence.

It also found that multi‑agency responses generate strong social value over time, by reducing the long‑term impacts and costs of family violence.

The short video series linked below shares key insights from an independent outcomes evaluation of four local multi-agency responses to family violence across Aotearoa. Led by Dr Cath Leonard of Ihi Research, in partnership with Wellbeing Economics NZ, the evaluation explored what leads to valued outcomes for whānau and families, practitioners and communities. 

1. Evaluating Multi Agency Response (MAR) for family violence(external link)

2. Safe and effective responses to family violence(external link)

3. Valued outcomes for whānau and families(external link)

4. Placed-based responses(external link)

5. Accessing support from government agencies(external link)

6. Economic benefits(external link)

7. Key enablers(external link)

8. It works!(external link)

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