Do you need help and support now?
Please reach out for help if you need support right now. Talk with someone you trust, see a doctor or counsellor, or text or call 1737 for free to speak with a trained counsellor, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Call the Police
If you have experienced a criminal action against you or someone else, please contact the police as soon as possible.
- Phone 111 if you are in immediate danger or an assault has just happened.
- Otherwise, phone 105 or go online to www.police.govt.nz/105support
Suspected or alleged child abuse
- Listen without judgment
- Inform your Parish Safeguarding Contact. Their contact details will be on the ‘Safe Church for Everyone’ poster and displayed in a prominent place in your parish/ministry unit. You can also contact your parish/ministry unit administrator for their contact details.
- Refer to pages 27-32 from Keeping Them Safe, our Diocese Child Protection Policy and Procedure document
- Contact Oranga Tamariki – www.orangatamariki.govt.nz or call 0508 326 459
- Contact the Safeguarding Officer for the Diocese (see below)
Contact a statutory body
You may be able to make a complaint under relevant legislation, for example:
- Human Rights Act 1993 – contact the Human Rights Commission
- Employment Relations Act 2000 – contact the Employment Relations Authority
Misbehaviour or Misconduct from an ordained minister, licensed person, or office holder:
Contact the Ministry Standards Commission
No form of harassment or abuse is acceptable to the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia and they will take all complaints seriously. All office holders of the Anglican Church are expected to uphold the highest standards of ethical behaviour and there are disciplinary processes in place if they fail to do so. The Anglican Church has established a Ministry Standards Commission to deal with complaints.
All complaints about any alleged misbehaviour or misconduct by an ordained minister, licensed person, or office holder are now received and handled by the Registrar of the Ministry Standards Commission, who can be confidentially contacted at registrar@anglicanchurch.org.nz
More information can be found on the Commission’s website: ministrystandards.org
Meet with the Diocesan Monitor
The Diocesan Monitor is a local, independent and confidential person who is available to hear the concerns of anyone who feels they have experienced professional misconduct by a person within the Anglican Church, including unethical behaviour, abuse of power or sexual harassment.
You can arrange a time to meet the Monitor face-to-face to discuss any concerns you have.
See below for details about the role and the Monitor’s contact details
Misbehaviour from anyone other than an ordained minister, licensed person, or office holder should be discussed with:
- Your local priest or vicar
- Your local archdeacon
- Diocesan staff (see list here)
- Diocesan Monitor
- Diocesan Safeguarding Officer
Non-urgent Safeguarding questions
Discuss your questions with:
- Parish Safeguarding Contact.
- Clergy, ministry leader(s), administrator, wardens, vestry
- Diocesan Safeguarding Officer
Key Safeguarding People within our Diocese
The Diocesan Safeguarding Educator and Officer
Nathan Muirhead
Nathan Muirhead is our current Diocesan Safeguarding Officer, focusing on providing administrative support. He can give advice and guidance on safeguarding matters such as:
- policies and procedures for children’s and youth work,
- health & safety best practice for children and youth,
- working with Parish Safeguarding Contacts (PSCs), and
- responding to a safeguarding situation within our Diocese.
The Diocesan Monitor, and Bishop’s Reconciliation Advisor
Clare Ayres
(Clare is temporarily unavailable from 1 September to the end of November 2025. Please contact the Safeguarding Officer or the Diocesan office during this time)
The Diocesan Monitor is an independent and confidential person who is available to hear the concerns of anyone who feels they have experienced professional misconduct by a person within the Anglican Church, including unethical behaviour, abuse of power or sexual harrassment.
The Diocesan Monitor is not a member of the Anglican Church, and is therefore considered independent and impartial. Although the Monitor reports to the Bishop, they have the authority to follow through the responsibilities, functions, and duties of the role.
Clare is available to talk through any issue or concern you have regarding unethical and unsafe behaviour practice. This can range from discussing a concern and how you manage it, through to having guidance regarding the need to escalate reporting of unsafe or unethical behaviour higher.