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Welcome to Shakti New Zealand

Shakti is a national not-for-profit community organisation specialised in the area of women’s development, empowerment and domestic/ family violence intervention, prevention and awareness. We are a specialist provider of culturally competent support services for women, children and families of Asian, African and Middle Eastern origin. Over the years, the support group has grown from the confines of one tiny room to a national umbrella organisation with 7 member organisations in Central, West and South Auckland, Central North Island and South Island.

This website has information on how we can help if you or someone you know is in a situation of domestic violence. We encourage you to reach out to us if you are living a life of fear and violence or if you are unsure that you are affected by domestic violence.

Click here to learn about our Mission, Vision, Values and our Funders.

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Helen Clark, Our Patron

Our patron, Helen ClarkShakti is proud and honoured to have Helen Clark, the former Prime Minister of New Zealand and currently the head of UNDP, New York, as our Patron. She has known Shakti from inception and has been supportive of the work we do within New Zealand’s migrant and refugee communities as well as the global cause of women working against violence. Helen Clark is currently the head of UNDP, at the United Nations, New York.

                                                        Thank you, Helen!

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Purple Dandelion

Purple Dandelion book cover

Domestic violence in Asian, African and Middle Eastern communities is very much considered a personal matter. It is, in fact, a social issue that needs to be brought into the public domain, discussed and addressed. In an effort to highlight the various forms of socio-cultural oppression and violence against women and children, Shakti founder, Farida Sultana has written Purple Dandelion which is the story of her life and the lives of many other women, survivors and all those who made a difference in the society we live in. Published by Exisle Publishing (NZ), Purple Dandelion is available in leading New Zealand bookshops, international online bookstores and http://www.exisle.co.nz/. A percentage from the sale of the book will be donated to Project Women Against Violence.

For reviews click on www.stuff.co.nz or www.nzwomansweekly.co.nz.

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Victory!  New Zealand Criminalises Under-age/Forced Marriage!

Shakti is very happy with the announcement from John Key, Prime Minister of New Zealand, that the government has strengthened the Domestic Violence Act to include the criminalisation of under-age / forced marriage.

This is excellent news for all our Asian, African and Middle Eastern women, young women and children who are at risk of experiencing this human rights abuse.  Shakti would like to thank all our supporters who helped out in this 6-year long campaign.  Click here to read more.