About Black Ribbon

The Campaign

Black Ribbon New Zealand seeks to end domestic and family violence towards EVERYONE by asking all Kiwi's to acknowledge and modify their own behaviour and attitudes towards violence in domestic relationships. We are a volunteer based organisation predominantly operating in the Central North Island, but reaching out throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. Please help us to work towards providing non-discriminatory services to New Zealanders when they choose change.

Domestic violence doesn't just happen to women - it happens to EVERYONE.

EVERYONE has emotions, and sometimes heightened emotions results in violence being directed towards vulnerable people we live with. Especially vulnerable people include children, the elderly, the disabled, and marginalised groups like men and boys or people in minority groups who have no support networks. EVERYONE knows someone who is vulnerable.

New Zealand has suffered far too long, and suffered too much loss. It's time for change. If we stand together, we can make a difference! Please join us. Stopping domestic violence in its tracks begins with you and me, but it's EVERYONE's business!

The Trust

The Black Ribbon New Zealand Trust exists to promote awareness of domestic and family violence as non-discriminatory in terms of any of the prohibited grounds of discrimination pursuant to Section 21 of the Human Rights Act 1993.

The Trust is incorporated under the Charitable Trusts Act 1957 as a charitable trust.  The Black Ribbon New Zealand Trust uses all donations and other funds to administer its purposes as per the Trust Deed.

Our Focus for 2019-2021

Our focus for 2019-2021 is to establish programmes which directly assist communities nation-wide and are not limited to physical locations. We are in the process of establishing a nation-wide directory service to be run in conjunction with a 24-hour volunteer based telephone line. The help line and directory will enable victims of domestic violence to contact someone by telephone who will be available to provide wrap around help including immediate safety measures, finding accommodation providers where needed, help with finding legal advocacy, and accessing local support networks for ongoing assistance.

Our Community Reach

Black Ribbon currently operates only as a social media reach, and in the last six months has begun to reach out to local communities in Hamilton and Te Puke through local community stalls and barbeques which double as fundraising opportunities. We have minimal active volunteers and need to develop an active volunteer base around New Zealand, for which we need a volunteer co-ordinator. We will also need a part-time administrator to be responsible for the management of day to day campaign activities and supervision. We hope to fill these positions by the end of 2020.

The Ribbon & Koru

Over the years, a black ribbon has been used as a symbol for many different causes and events - political statements, remembrance, or for mourning those who have lost their lives in unspeakable tragedies. Without detracting from any other reason for holding up a black ribbon, the Black Ribbon New Zealand Trust has added the distinct symbol of the New Zealand koru to our ribbon. While the black of the ribbon traditionally represents mourning and loss, the koru adds the hope of a new beginning. We have chosen the koru to represent our persistent drive towards new understandings, and working together to bring hope for change to homes throughout New Zealand.


Other Black Ribbon  Campaigns

The Black Ribbon New Zealand Trust and the Black Ribbon social media campaign are not affiliated to the entity known simply as "Black Ribbon" which was formed in 2012. Nor are we affiliated to any other organisation in any country which bears the name 'Black Ribbon'.