Lay summary
The first Women’s Refuge (Refuge) was opened in Christchurch 1973. Since then 41 Refuges continue to provide safety and protection services. Refuge is a women-centred organisation which provides 24 hour, 7 days a week crisis support to women and children experiencing domestic violence (physical, emotional and psychological) through the delivery of an emergency crisis phone line, safe house shelters and community advocacy, information and support services. The workforce is primarily voluntary of which wahine Maori represent 54 percent. This research will explore Te Ao Maori (Maori world views) as a response to addressing domestic violence amongst whanau Maori. The experiences of wahine Maori who work in Maori Refuges in pursuit of mauri ora (health and wellbeing) for whanau will be explored in this research project.