Our patron and kuia
“The welfare of women and children has been close to my heart for many years, particularly after delivering some of the horror stories in our news bulletins. The science of brain development tells us how damaging exposure to domestic violence is for the brains of young children. It also tells us that being surrounded by violence is just as bad as actually being hit. I wholeheartedly support the work of Women’s Refuge to provide services that help women and children escape violence in their lives.”
Judy Bailey ONZM
Patron of Women’s Refuge
“I have been involved with Women’s Refuge for more than 30 years. I have seen it at the grass-root level and how important our work is for whanau. Our advocates work tirelessly to help wahine and tamariki deal with and escape domestic violence in their lives 24/7. We answer calls, we meet up in cafes and our community rooms throughout New Zealand. I want to see this movement grow and continue to provide this service into the future.
Women’s Refuge is so important, as we are often the only face out there when our families are devastated by violence with nowhere to go. Our houses and community offices are there for women and offer a non-judgemental safe space to talk and receive help. But more importantly we do major work in rebuilding families.
There is a huge amount of work going on out there and I am proud to support not only the workers of Women’s Refuge but also the thousands of women, children and tane they work with in the community.
“Kōrero tahi, mahi a te mahi. Ahakoa te hara, aroha ki te tangata.”
Nancy Mihaka (Ngati Pikiao – Rotorua; Te Arawa; Ngati Kahu; Nga puhi)
Kuia of Women’s Refuge
Our ambassadors & Spokesperson
The Project presenter Kanoa Lloyd knows first hand what it’s like to need Women’s Refuge. She was kindergarten age when she spent time in a refuge with her mother and her sister, describing it as “a brief blip on the radar” of her life. As a result, she says the organisation’s work is, “critical and hugely impactful”.
“I think for most people, when they think about Women’s Refuge they think about Women’s Refuge safe houses and the really important work that they do there, but over half of the people that go into those safe houses every year are under children.”
“So there are lots of kids that are spending time in these places. There are thousands of women and children that go through Women’s Refuge services.
“They do education, they do counselling services and they help set families up so they can live violence-free lives. I just think the work that they do is completely amazing.”
Gisborne-born Ngati Porou Kanoa Lloyd traded in stints as a university student and massage therapist to join the presenting team on after school show Sticky TV. From 2014 Lloyd was a weather presenter for 3 News at 6pm, where she won headlines for daring to introduce some te reo. In February 2017 Lloyd became one of the three inaugural presenters of 7pm current affairs/entertainment show The Project.
Kanoa Lloyd – The Project presenter
Ambassador of Women’s Refuge
Media presenter and reporter Melissa Davies has been bringing the news to television with an extensive media career, now working at Newshub. From breakfast programmes to the 6 o’clock news, she’s travelled the globe covering
various and wide-ranging stories.
She’s covered the London 2012 Olympics and the Rio 2016 Olympics, Glasgow Commonwealth Games and the 2015 Rugby World Cup. She was also the Newshub correspondent in Bermuda for the 2017 America’s Cup. Melissa names
her two career highlights however, as covering the centenary of the Gallipoli landings and the funeral of Nelson Mandela.
We were incredibly honoured to have Melissa on-board. This year she was an amazing MC for us, attending a breakfast launching our Annual Appeal.
Melissa Davies – Newshub
Ambassador of Women’s Refuge
