Community Violence

Community violence is violence - physical, sexual, psychological - between people who are not related and who may or may not know each other (acquaintances and strangers). This includes bullying, cyberbullying, stalking, and harassment. This is outside of a close relationship and could be someone in your lecture, someone online, someone you work with, someone you’ve seen in town, or someone completely unknown to you.

Some behaviours are:

• Hate incident occurs when behaviour demonstrates or is motivated by hostility or prejudice towards someone based on an aspect of their identity. This can include disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, race and nationality (biphobia, homophobia, transphobia, sexism, racism, and ableism). A hate incident becomes a hate crime when a crime is committed and is motivated by hostility or prejudice.
• Physical violence and assault covers any situation where force is intentionally applied against another person. This can include indirect force such as throwing something, as well as an attempted assault.
• Threats to kill or injure someone. This includes threats made verbally, by text, email, a letter, or any other method of conveying a threat.
• Harassment in the community context, is when an acquaintance or stranger has committed the following acts on at least two separate occasions within 12 months: Following you, entering your property without permission, giving you offensive material, or doing something that makes you fear for your safety.
• Harassment can also be unwanted or unjustified behaviour that is offensive or humiliating such as online/digital harassment, racial harassment and sexual harassment.
• Bullying is a form of deliberate aggressive or threatening behaviour and can cause significant harm. It can be physical, verbal, social or online.
• For more information on sexual violence and support options click here.

If you are being harassed by someone you do not have a relationship with, you can apply for a restraining order. For more information see the Ministry of Justice website.

How to report to Police

If you would like information on talking to Police and the court process, see Victims Info.

Community Law is also available throughout New Zealand to provide free legal help.

Safety Planning

• A College Student's Guide to Safety Planning
• Victim's Information
• Netsafe - keeping safe online

Informative Resources

• Voice of Racism
• Stop Hate UK
• Pink Shirt Day -  working together to stop bullying and celebrate diversity.
• How to be an upstander - five upstander actions to help someone who is being bullied
• InsideOUT
• Community Law - Assault - a legal definition, and information on charges and penalties
• Bullying Free NZ
• Community Law - Harassment and bullying - including information on online/digital harassment
• Employment New Zealand - Workplace bullying
• Restraining Order - Legal help when being harassed
• NZ Police - Hate Crime/incident

Nationwide Support

• Netsafe - free and confidential advice and support regarding online incidents. You can also report online incidents if you are concerned.
• Human Rights Commission
• Community Law - Where to go for more support

The University of Waikato Student Health Service
A multidisciplinary health team that is available to provide support to students.
Phone: 07 838 4037
Website: https://www.waikato.ac.nz/students/health/

Tauranga Student Health
On-site, students have access to a Student Health Nurse, a Physio, Massage Therapist, and Chaplain.
Website: https://www.waikato.ac.nz/students/health/tauranga

Bay Counselling & Therapy Service (Tauranga)
A referral can be made to this service by the student health nurse.
Phone: 022 013 9003
Email: [email protected]

Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) (Staff)
EAP is available for staff at The University of Waikato. EAP provides free counselling and psychological support.
EAP can be accessed via Benestar.

Diversity Counselling (Hamilton)
Counselling by registered professionals supporting people from a diversity of cultures, ethnicities, genders, religions, and languages.
Phone: 021 0262 5587
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.dcnz.net

Waikato Community Law (Hamilton)
Free Legal help
Phone: 0800 529 482
Website: https://communitylaw.org.nz/centre/waikato/

Baywide Community Law (Tauranga)
Free legal help
Phone: 07 571 6812
Website: https://communitylaw.org.nz/centre/tauranga-whakatane/

Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)
Free, confidential, independent information and advice for everyone, as well as helping people know what their rights are and how to access services they need.
Phone: 0800 367 222 (nationwide)
Website: www.cab.org.nz