Call for reforms to address family violence, economic abuse

By CathNews New Zealand

October 6th, 2026

Catholic Parish of Christchurch North

Not-for-profit lender Good Shepherd New Zealand and the National Collective of Independent Women's Refuges have called for measures to help prevent and respond to cases of economic abuse, including that victims not be held responsible for paying debt that was caused by family violence. Source: Radio New Zealand.

“We need to stop treating economic abuse like a hardship or budgeting problem, and instead recognise it as a long-term driver of inequality, hardship, and intergenerational harm in Aotearoa,” said Tania Pouwhare, chief executive of Good Shepherd New Zealand.

She said economic abuse referred to family violence that used coercive, controlling or threatening behaviour to restrict or remove a person’s financial freedom.

It could involve controlling their spending, sabotaging their job, or building debt in their name.

Research indicated that 15 per cent of women who had ever been in a relationship had experienced some sort of domestic abuse.

But Ms Pouwhare said it was rarely recognised or responded to as a form of family violence.

The organisations are calling for measures that include victims not being held responsible for paying debt that was caused by family violence.

They want the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act amended to address weaponisation of joint financial obligations, including clarification that a joint borrower was not required to agree to changes to joint obligations if they were caused by coercion.

They want the definition of economic abuse added to the legal definition of violence in the Family Violence Act.

The groups would like to see grants for survivors, and also the law to be changed to stop them being prosecuted for benefit fraud if they claim the sole parent benefit while experiencing family violence from their intimate partner.

Another recommendation is that Inland Revenue prioritise victims if there is a conflict over a child support claim, and for them to be eligible for non-means tested non-recoverable legal aid.

Good Shepherd New Zealand continues the work of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, who were founded in France in the 19th century and started ministry in New Zealand in the 1880s.

FULL STORY

You may be a victim of economic abuse and not even realise it (By Susan Edmunds/Radio New Zealand)