No one expects to become the victim of a crime or traumatic event. But when the unexpected happens, Manaaki Tāngata | Victim Support is there to provide practical help and emotional support through some of life’s most difficult moments. For 40 years, the organisation has provided free 24/7 support services for people directly affected by crime and traumatic events, including their whānau and witnesses.
‘We support people at their time of crisis and through the justice system so that they feel informed, empowered, safe, and able to cope with the impact,’ explains National Grants Specialist Denise Graham. From aggravated robbery and assault to homicide and harassment, Victim Support‘s team is on standby to help.
Chief Executive James McCulloch describes the organisation’s approach as providing ‘help with heart’. The impact of that support is reflected in a recent independent survey, which found that 96 per cent of people considered the service helpful or very helpful. In the past 12 months alone, Victim Support has responded to the needs of more than 21,000 people across Auckland, including more than 5,000 in West Auckland.
‘The demand for our services increases year on year by around 8% as more people learn about and access our free services and the exceptional support we offer,’ says Denise.
For many people, that support can be life-changing. Local West Auckland Team Leader Lucy Rusden recalls a recent case involving a West Auckland landlord and three tenants affected by a violent aggravated robbery that left the landlord with serious injuries. Victim Support helped the group access emergency accommodation, counselling, court support, advocacy and other specialist services, providing practical and emotional assistance throughout their recovery.
In another case, Lucy and her team of support workers helped a young West Auckland woman experiencing family harm and sexual violence. After feeling unsupported elsewhere, she turned to Victim Support. The team provided ongoing emotional support, arranged specialist counselling, assisted with urgent relocations for her safety and helped her navigate the police and court process. When the defendant later passed away unexpectedly, Victim Support remained alongside her, connecting her with specialist grief counselling and supporting her through this additional trauma.
Thanks to $15,258 in funding from the 2026 Your West Support Fund, Victim Support has recruited additional staff and provided specialist training in key areas such as family harm and homicide. Lucy says community funding plays a vital role in helping Victim Support retain the locally based professional staff who deliver frontline services in West Auckland.
‘This support helps ensure we can continue providing timely, specialist assistance to West Aucklanders when they need it most,’ she says.
Learn more about Manaaki Tāngata | Victim Support at victimsupport.org.nz or follow them on Facebook.
If you or your organisation could use support from The Trusts, find out how to apply at thetrusts.co.nz/our-funds.
