Economic Harm Explained
Economic harm is behaviour towards a person that controls, restricts or removes their access to money, economic resources or participation in financial decisions. Economic harm,
Economic harm doesn’t leave visible marks. Like other forms of family violence, it can be subtle – beginning with the smallest breach of trust and building over time.
Economic harm can happen to anyone. It is experienced in the context of power and control within a relationship.
The impact can be devastating and can affect financial wellbeing long after the relationship is over.
Explore our resources that are designed to build understanding and support people to address economic harm in their own lives.
Economic Harm
Economic harm doesn’t leave visible marks. Like other forms of family violence, it can be subtle – beginning with the smallest breach of trust and building over time.
Economic harm, sometimes called economic abuse, can happen to anyone. It is experienced in the context of power and control within a relationship.
The impact can be devastating and can affect financial wellbeing long after the relationship is over.
Explore our resources that are designed to build understanding and support people to address economic harm in their own lives.
Explore economic harm
The Impact
Economic harm has both short and long term consequences. The impact is complex, and cuts across many environments, often leading to years of debilitating economic
Economic harm vs economic abuse
What comes to mind when you think about the word abuse? Is it a word that you identify with, or does it feel a bit alien, like a word that involves someone else?
How to recognise economic harm
Economic harm doesn’t leave visible marks. Like other forms of violence, it can be subtle – beginning with the smallest breach of trust and build
Finding support
Make a Referral
Get in touch to refer your client or to discuss a concern. Our coach has
Get Support
We can provide you with support with the financial challenges of family violence. Please call
Your Banking
Understanding your banking and what economic harm support is available can help you work through
Support for Employers
Family violence, including economic harm, has a significant impact on employee wellbeing and costs New
Real life stories
Perspective: experiencing economic harm
Economic harm can be invisible and the controlling behaviours that inflict this harm often feel
I had to stand up for myself
It’s taken Holly two years and a lot of inner strength to be able to
I thought I was bad with money
Paige didn’t realise the severity of the harm she was experiencing until she started to
Be a proper girlfriend
Lara’s relationship, like many, started out healthy – but over time things started to change
More useful information
Healthy Financial Relationships
Money for many Kiwis is a ‘taboo’ subject that is well known to cause relationship
Research: Economic Abuse in New Zealand
Research: Economic Abuse in New Zealand Research: Economic Abuse in New Zealand Our 2018 research
Webinar: Understanding Economic Harm in Aotearoa
Economic harm is a form of family violence that can happen to anyone and a
Responding to economic harm in the workplace
A business owner shares her story of how her company supported a member of staff
What is sexually transmitted debt (STD)?
Like other forms of STDs, sexually transmitted debt is something you can catch from your
New Zealand Family Violence and Economic Harm Statistics
New Zealand is ranked as the worst developed country in the OECD for family violence.
Demystifying economic harm
Gain a better understanding of economic harm, while we unpack some of the common misconceptions
Red flags that someone might be experiencing economic harm
To protect and support friends and whānau, it’s useful to be able to recognise behaviours
Did you find this useful?
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