Background on He Koiora Matapopore: New Zealand's Pivotal Family Violence Study

He Koiora Matapopore, also known as the 2019 New Zealand Family Violence Study, represents a cornerstone in understanding the scope and impact of family violence in Aotearoa New Zealand. Led by researchers from the University of Auckland, including Professor Janet Fanslow and Professor Tracey McIntosh, this population-based survey collected data from 2,887 participants between 2017 and 2019 across Auckland, Northland, and Waikato regions, covering about 40% of the country's population. The study provides robust, representative statistics on lifetime exposure to various forms of violence, including intimate partner violence (IPV), non-partner physical and sexual violence, child sexual abuse, and economic abuse.

Key prevalence findings reveal stark realities: 45.4% of ever-partnered women and a significant proportion of men reported experiencing any IPV, encompassing physical, sexual, psychological abuse, controlling behaviors, and economic abuse. Women faced higher rates of sexual violence (32% lifetime non-partner) and severe IPV, while men reported more physical non-partner violence (40%). People with disabilities experienced even higher rates across all categories. These insights, drawn from standardized tools like the WHO Violence Against Women questionnaire, highlight intergenerational patterns, with adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) strongly linked to adult victimization.

The study's emphasis on ethnic diversity—Māori, Pacific, Asian, and European participants—underscores disparities, with Māori women showing elevated exposure rates. Health impacts are profound: 40.8% of women experiencing IPV reported injuries, and associations with mental health issues, cancer hospitalizations, and chronic conditions persist lifelong. This research not only baselines prevalence but informs policy, emphasizing prevention, support systems, and healthcare responses.

Three Groundbreaking Open-Access Articles Published in 2025

In September 2025, three new open-access articles emerged from the He Koiora Matapopore dataset, published in prestigious journals like the Journal of Interpersonal Violence and Scandinavian Journal of Public Health. These papers, authored primarily by University of Auckland's violence research team, delve into help-seeking behaviors and long-term health consequences through hospitalization data linkage.

The articles are:

• Help-Seeking by Women and Men After Experiencing Any IPV (Journal of Interpersonal Violence, June 2025): Explores informal and formal help-seeking post-IPV.Read full article
• Women’s Lifetime Interpersonal Violence Exposure and Associations with Hospitalization (Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, August 2025): Links violence to hospital admissions for women.Read full article
• Men’s Lifetime Interpersonal Violence Exposure and Associations with Hospitalization (Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, August 2025): Companion analysis for men.Read full article

These publications build on the study's National Minimum Dataset linkages, offering population-level evidence on violence's health burden. For researchers interested in similar roles, explore higher ed jobs in public health at NZ universities.

Help-Seeking Patterns: Barriers and Pathways for Survivors

The help-seeking article reveals critical gaps: Among IPV victims, 33.4% of women and 55% of men told no one. Informal supports like family and friends were primary, with formal services (police, counselors) less utilized. Women who experienced severe IPV were more likely to seek help, but overall rates remain low. Helpful responses boosted positive outcomes like violence cessation.

This underscores the need for accessible, trusted services. In Aotearoa's context, cultural factors for Māori and Pacific communities influence disclosure. Policymakers can use these findings to enhance training for general practitioners and social workers, aligning with Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles for equitable support.

Women's Violence Exposure and Hospitalization Risks

Analysis of 1,151 ever-partnered women showed 62.6% exposed to any interpersonal violence. CSA linked to 78% higher odds of neoplasm hospitalizations, 70% digestive, 60% musculoskeletal, 59% pregnancy complications, and 53% injuries. Non-partner sexual violence doubled injury admissions. Multiple IPV types correlated with respiratory (114% higher), pregnancy (107%), and neoplasm risks.

Māori women faced highest prevalences (66.3% any violence), highlighting systemic inequities. These national-level links via 31-year hospital data demonstrate violence's role as a preventable health determinant, urging routine screening in healthcare.

Men's Underrecognized Health Burden from Violence

For 1,054 men, 68.4% reported any violence, with 43% non-partner physical violence. Associations included CSA with nervous system disorders (604% higher odds), ear diseases (331%), and injuries. IPV (3+ types) raised injury odds 164%. These findings challenge stereotypes, showing men's violence exposure drives hospitalizations, particularly from childhood trauma.

Younger and food-insecure men showed elevated risks, informing targeted interventions beyond traditional male-focused services.

Broad Prevalence and Demographic Insights

Overall, NZ women experience IPV at rates far exceeding global averages, with economic abuse affecting nearly half. Ethnic disparities persist: Māori 55.5% non-partner physical violence. Disabilities amplify risks 2-3 fold. Recent 2026 data shows police responding to family harm every three minutes, with Salvation Army reporting peak levels since 2018.

• Lifetime IPV women: 45.4%, men lower but 36.9% 1-2 types
• CSA: 20.7% women, 7.5% men
• Injuries from IPV: 40.8% women

University of Auckland's Leadership in Violence Research

The Centre for Violence Research at UoA drives this work, with Prof Fanslow's decades-long expertise and Prof McIntosh's Māori perspectives. Early career researchers like Brooklyn Mellar contribute vital analyses. Such projects position NZ unis as global leaders, attracting funding and collaborations. Aspiring academics can craft winning CVs or check professor jobs in social sciences.

Policy and Practice Implications for Aotearoa

Findings advocate violence prevention, healthcare screening, and culturally safe services. Linking data shows potential hospital savings via early intervention. Te Puna Aonui strategy aligns, emphasizing multi-agency responses. For educators, integrating these into curricula enhances training.

Photo by Laura Chouette on Unsplash

Current Landscape and Future Research Directions

2026 updates confirm ongoing crisis: 147,000 violent crime victims yearly. Future work may explore interventions' efficacy. Researchers eye longitudinal follow-ups. Explore NZ university jobs or rate professors like Fanslow for insights.

Visit the full study report for deeper dive.