Types of abuse

Physical abuse is the use of physical force or actions that cause, or could cause, injury, pain, or distress.  This can include acts such as hitting, punching, slapping, pushing, restraint, inappropriate use of medication, or misuse of equipment or aids.  

Reference: Disability Abuse Prevention And Response | Disability Support Services

• Regarding restraint, VisAble notes that inappropriate medication and equipment can be used as a form of restraint, as well as direct care practices. 

Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing someone to take part in sexual activities without freely given consent. This can include physical acts or non-contact behaviours such as exposure to sexual imagery or grooming, and can occur in many settings.  

Reference: Oranga Tamariki.

Behaviours that intimidate; harass; threaten; humiliate; control; or cause mental anguish, stress, fear or distress. Emotional abuse may involve coercive or controlling actions such as verbal putdowns; blame shifting; manipulation; intimidation; threats of harm; or damage to property or pets; bullying; isolating someone; or controlling access.  

It includes causing someone to witness or hear abuse in the family. 

Reference: Ministry of Justice.

1. Undue influence 

2. Coercive control 

Undue Influence or coercive control is when individuals assert influence over other people to have them accept things they would not otherwise have done or accepted. It can involve using various techniques or manipulations over time. 

Reference: CEJC.

This is about purposefully disrupting existing relationships in order to gain control and to isolate people from those they trust. Alienation or grooming enables an abusive person to exploit, control, or take advantage of another person.  Predatory alienation and grooming involve deceiving and manipulating a person, causing them to start to mistrust, fear or become isolated from those whom they’ve previously trusted. It puts the predator in a situation of control. 

Reference: Ministry of Justice.

This involves behaviours that control, restrict, exploit, or remove a person’s access to money, financial resources, or participation in financial decision-making, thereby undermining their economic autonomy and independence. 

Reference: Definition aligned with the Family Violence Act 2018 and NZ economic harm frameworks 

See also: Crimes Act 1961.

Failing to provide the care or support that is necessary to maintain a person’s health, safety or wellbeing, where that failure is likely to cause suffering, injury, adverse effects to health, or mental or physical harm.  

This includes situations where the failure to act means the care or support falls below the standard of care expected of a reasonable person in that caregiving and/or support role.  

Note: Neglect can severely impact children, elderly and disabled people who rely on consistent care.

Reference: Crimes Act 1961.

Refers to harm caused not just by individuals but by practices, policies or norms within an institution that violate a person’s rights or put them at risk. It often overlaps with neglect, discrimination, physical or psychological harm. 

Note: Disabled people (including tāngata whaikaha Māori and Pasifika disabled people) face elevated rates of violence, discrimination and neglect in New Zealand — partly due to ableism, under-resourced support systems and historical practices that isolated disabled people from families and communities.In Aotearoa New Zealand, this form of abuse has been extensively documented through the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care, which identified systemic patterns of harm within institutions, particularly affecting disabled people, Māori, and children in state care.

References: 
Safeguarding Board | Isle of Man
University of Auckland
Age Concern NZ

Harm experienced as a result of the disability, health, legal, or welfare systems operating in ways that remove choice, undermine autonomy, create barriers to safety, or enable ongoing abuse or neglect.  

Explore more about systemic abuse below.

Sources: Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care; Disability Support Services

Severe exploitation where a person cannot refuse or leave due to coercion, threats, deception, or abuse of power, resulting in loss of freedom and fundamental human rights (New Zealand Government, 2020; International Labour Organization, 2017).  In the New Zealand context, modern slavery is used as an umbrella term that includes:  forced labour, human trafficking, debt bondage, servitude, slavery-like practices (New Zealand Government, 2020). 

References:
Global estimates of modern slavery: Forced labour and forced marriage - International Labour Organization, Walk Free Foundation, & International Organization for Migration (2017).

A legislative response to modern slavery and worker exploitation: Discussion document - Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (2020). New Zealand Government.

Where disabled people’s fundamental rights to autonomy, dignity, safety, and participation are restricted, denied, or undermined by policies, systems, practices, or individual actions. 

Sources: Human Rights Commission NZ, 2021; Disability Support Services (no date); Royal Commission  of Inquiry into Abuse in Care, 2025 

Unfair or unequal treatment of a person or group based on characteristics such as race, gender, age, disability, or religion - resulting in reduced access to rights, opportunities, services, or protections.  

Source: Human Rights Act 1993; Human Rights Commission NZ, 2021.
References:
Human Rights Act 1993
Ministry of Justice.

A pattern of abusive, coercive, or controlling behaviours within an intimate relationship that cause physical, sexual, psychological, emotional, or economic harm, and is used to maintain power and control over a partner. 

References:

• Family Violence Act 2018

• Ministry of Social Development, 2022

• Stark, 2007

Family violence refers to any form of violence or abuse used by one person against another person with whom they have, or have had, a family-based or close personal relationship, and which includes a pattern of coercive or controlling behaviour that causes harm or fear  

In New Zealand, family violence is recognised as being broader than physical violence and includes: physical abuse, sexual abuse, psychological or emotional abuse, economic or financial abuse, coercive or controlling behaviour, threats, intimidation, harassment, and isolation. 

Defined as occurring within close personal relationships: e.g. with intimate partners, within whānau and extended family, within flatmates, between caregivers and those they support, and in any gender or sexuality configuration.  

Sources: Family Violence Act 2018; Ministry of Justice, 2018. 

References: 

• Family Violence Act 2018

• Ministry of Justice, 2018

CPVA encompasses a broad range of behaviours that a child might display towards their parents, caregivers and whānau. The violence can also continue into adulthood. 

Child to parent violence and abuse is more common than people realise - yet it’s often misunderstood, unspoken, and invisible.   

Types of violence can include physical, sexual, verbal, coercion, financial, property damage, hurting pets, self-harming and digital. 

Lack of self-care to an extent that it threatens personal health and safety, by: neglecting to care for one’s personal hygiene, health or surroundings; inability to avoid harm as a result of self-neglect; and failure to seek help or access services to meet health and social care needs 

Reference: NHS.