Author: Katie Wellington

New report on issues facing women experiencing harm and hardship

Today we are excited to release our report “Issues facing women experiencing harm and hardship” which focuses on the key financial and economic challenges that women are facing. This paper pulls together research and data from several sources and serves as a point in time view of how different factors come together to disadvantage women in New Zealand.

The paper shows that, while there is important work being done by the community, philanthropic and government sectors, there is still significant need for change. Women continue to face worse financial outcomes and remain vulnerable to harm and hardship.

On-going pay equity disparities mean women still struggle to access dignified income, which impacts their financial wellbeing and leaves them vulnerable to harm. It is also apparent that problem debt remains a pervasive issue for those in hardship and especially for those experiencing family violence economic abuse.

These challenges are harder for certain cohorts of women. In particular, Māori and Pacific women are overrepresented in family violence, housing deprivation, and gender pay gap statistics. The proportion of women on the sole parent benefit, difficulty re-entering the labour market, and the high value of unpaid child support debt shows that single mothers are also a cohort in need.

This reaffirms that women’s financial lives are not the product of discrete factors, there are many structural, systematic, and demographic issues that interact to impact whether a woman experiences hardship or harm. Complex challenges require complex solutions. We have undertaken this research as part of our work to identify and address social issues where they intersect with our financial and economic wellbeing work. This information will be used to support or identify changes that reduce and remove barriers to financial inclusion and economic participation for women. Going forward, we intend to deep-dive into some of the issues noted in this paper and present recommendations for changes that create better outcomes for women.

Partnering to support single older women into housing

Good Shepherd New Zealand, the Selwyn Foundation and the legacies of Sir Ernest Hyam Davis and Yvonne (Mollie) Carr, proudly managed by Perpetual Guardian, are coming together to design and pilot a new support service for single older women experiencing housing instability.

Lower average salaries, economic harm from family violence, and higher representation in casual and part time work can make it hard for women to save for their future – despite wanting to. The number of people entering their senior years as renters is also increasing. 

Emma Saunders, Chief Executive at Good Shepherd NZ, says:

“As a result, single older women can face financial barriers to living in healthy, secure and affordable homes that meet their needs. Some don’t have enough money to pay for bond or advance rent, afford essential appliances, make small changes to keep a home safe and accessible, or connect to utilities. We have some tools that can help.”

We are thrilled to be partnering with two organisations and the proud legacies of former Auckland Mayor Sir Ernest Hyam Davis and his daughter Yvonne (Mollie) Carr, who all have a strong track record for supporting women into their later stages of life. The Selwyn Foundation provides services to older people and their families, and uses its financial assets and leadership to drive positive social impact at scale. Perpetual Guardian has been providing estate planning options for New Zealanders for over 145 years, alongside enacting the wishes of philanthropists like Sir Ernest and Mollie, to provide social support to older people experiencing poverty and homelessness.

Thanks to funding from all parties, Good Shepherd NZ will co-design and work alongside these and other organisations supporting single older women experiencing housing challenges. We will leverage Good Shepherd’s financial wellbeing services and tools as part of an innovative and community-focused package of support. This includes our no-interest loans and family violence economic support for those experiencing intimate partner or elder abuse. 

Liz Gibbs, Chief of Social Impact at The Selwyn Foundation, says:

“Through this work, we hope to remove the financial barriers for some single older women accessing safe and stable housing. We also hope to contribute to the social sector’s understanding of the experience of older women, the barriers they face, and how best to assist them.”

Supporting single older women is an important part of our mission to help women, girls and their families be safe, strong, well and connected. Their needs, priorities and decisions will guide this pilot programme so our help is effective in ways that uphold mana and dignity. 

Kirsten Kilian-Taylor, Head of Philanthropy at Perpetual Guardian, says:

“The Selwyn Foundation and Good Shepherd NZ are doing great work in spaces that align beautifully to the legacies of Sir Ernest Hyam Davis and Mollie Carr and their heart intentions that our older generations are supported into housing and to move beyond deprivation and financial insecurity. This is an exciting collaboration, and we look forward to working together to help lift older women out of hardship and increase their financial and holistic wellbeing.”

New research into the long-term impacts of economic abuse

Young hippy city girl

Good Shepherd New Zealand is pleased to share new research examining the ongoing impacts of economic harm from family violence. The report titled ‘Long-term impacts of family violence economic abuse’ shines light on women’s experiences of economic abuse, and the financial and economic consequences that can continue long after a relationship has ended.

Economic abuse is a form of family violence that uses coercive, controlling, and threatening behaviour to restrict or remove a person’s financial freedom, autonomy, and security. 

Some early insights from this work were released in November 2024 as part of an International Economic Abuse Awareness Day event, and we’re excited to now be releasing the report in full.

Economic abuse is a relatively recent area of study. We are privileged to add this report to the body of knowledge about such an important subject. Our research used data from the National Collective of Independent Women’s Refuges and Good Shepherd’s Economic Harm Service to illustrate the variety and extent of economic abuse experienced by women — often alongside physical violence, emotional abuse, gaslighting and other harmful behaviours. 

We found that over the course of a year, 60% of Women’s Refuge clients who completed a risk assessment identified they had experienced at least one form of economic harm. Most (72%) reported being excluded from decisions about shared or household money, and a similar number (68%) reported being stopped from having their own money. Good Shepherd New Zealand clients also reported economic restriction and control, and forced or coerced debt. There was an average of $22,000 of debt per person, and the majority held multiple debts with one or more creditor. The impact of this can be devastating, and can affect financial wellbeing long after the relationship is over. 

Women interviewed discussed how houses, children, and the legal system were weaponised against them after leaving the relationship — burning them out emotionally and pushing them further into financial hardship. For others, the impacts of high-cost debt were compounded by the challenges of a ruined credit score, housing insecurity, and difficulty re-entering the job market. 

Many clients interviewed said they found it hard to imagine a future, but they were hopeful about looking forward to the simple things in life, such as a home, happy children, a job, and being debt free. We will continue to play our part in supporting women to be lifted out of harm and hardship and into better financial wellbeing. 

A heartfelt thank you to former Good Shepherd clients who participated in interviews for this research project. We’re so grateful for your trust and insights. And thank you to the National Collective of Independent Women’s Refuges for providing us with their data to help us understand the economic harm their clients experience.

Read the full report and a suite of companion resources

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