Need support? Here is a list of resources
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How can women break the glass ceiling when they don’t even have a floor to stand on?
This article is an attempt at a comprehensive list of support services available to those in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland and Aotearoa New Zealand provided by Kaitlin Henderson, the Centre Manager of Programmes at Auckland Women’s Centre in Tāmaki Makaurau’s Grey Lynn.
Tess (left) and Kaitlin (right) pictured at the Intersectional Feminist Club picnic late 2021.
Kaitlin and I met via the Intersectional Feminist Club (IFC) which is hosted at the Women’s Center and co-run with Tess Morgan. At the club, we discuss issues that affect people of all genders in Aotearoa and beyond.
Unfortunately, even before the pandemic many New Zealanders were struggling with basic physiological needs – the base of the pyramid in Maslow's Hierarchy: housing issues, access to living costs, and mental health problems are all too common in NZ.
We reached out to Kaitlin to help us with creating a list of amenities available to those who need them. Here it is:
Kaitlin, where could someone go if they have an insecure housing situation?
If you are a low-income New Zealand citizen or permanent resident you may be eligible for subsidised housing through WINZ. Government subsidised housing allows you to pay rent relative to your household income, which is more affordable than renting through private landlords.
If your housing insecurity is a result of domestic violence, there are safe homes across Auckland where you can find refuge. Shine and Women’s Refuge are great places to contact if you need help finding somewhere to stay.
Could you tell us some of the common issues people run into with these services and some troubleshooting tips?
WINZ can be difficult to navigate, so it’s a good idea to chat with an advocacy service to make sure you are receiving your full entitlements. Beneficiaries Advocacy and Information Service and Beneficiary Advice Mt Albert can both help with this. Both these services have volunteers who will attend your WINZ appointments with you to make sure you are treated fairly and given the correct entitlements.
If someone is lacking finances and/or has stress about basic living costs, who could they go to for help?
You can get help from WINZ if you are struggling with living expenses, even if you are employed! Temporary Additional Support is available for help with things like school uniforms, big bills, or moving house. Reach out to an advocacy service to make sure you are getting all the support available.
If you need help with food there are quite a few food banks around that can help.
What are the resources available to people needing help when they are struggling emotionally?
I am a big proponent of counselling! It’s often far more expensive than it should be, but there are some good workarounds:
Your GP can refer you to free counselling.
WINZ may be able to give you a disability allowance to cover the costs (you don’t have to be on a normal benefit to qualify for this).
ACC Sensitive Claims provides free counselling for any matters relating to sexual abuse and assult, regardless of when the incident took place.
Mt Eden Home and Family can provide counselling on a sliding scale
The Auckland Women’s Centre, North Shore Women’s Centre, and Waitakere Women’s Centre all provide low-cost counselling.
We are also lucky enough to have some awesome helplines in New Zealand. My favourites are:
The HELP sexual assault helpline is the best place to call if you want to talk about sexual assault.
Anxiety NZ can help calm you down if you are struggling with Anxiety. They can talk you through panic attacks, listen to your stressors and do relaxation activities with you over the phone.
1737 is a national helpline that can help with almost anything!
Is there anything else you think might be useful to add?
The Antara Free Natural Health Clinic is great for people in the community who cannot afford to pay for natural health care. They offer massage, counselling, naturopathy and more.
We provide low-cost massage at the Auckland Women’s Centre every Monday.
The Citizens Advice Bureau is an awesome resource if you need a quick legal opinion.
Community groups and courses can be a fun way to connect with like minded women, and there are quite a few free or low-cost options in Auckland.
Hearts and Minds have lots of wellbeing courses, and they are free if you ask your GP for a referral
We have lots of cheap courses at the centre, and some are free such as Self Defence or our Solo Mum support group.
Thank you so much Kaitlin! This is incredible and will hopefully help so many people get the support they need.
If you have any thoughts, comments, feedback, or ideas for additions to this list please feel free to reach out to: kaitiaki@manzana.org.nz
