The Serenity Foundation’s Gandhi Nivas programme provides early prevention services for men identified at risk of committing family harm. 

Its community partnership approach supports men to change their behaviour, reducing the likelihood of further harm. Nearly 60% of men who have been through the programme have stopped reoffending in this way.  

There are currently three Gandhi Nivas houses in Auckland; the goal is to have them around the country. 

The community partnership includes the NZ Police, Total Healthcare PHO, The Tindall Foundation, Hoku, ACC, Foundation North and Sahaayta Counselling and Social Support.

How Gandhi Nivas got started

Gandhi Nivas was established in 2014 using a Lotteries Commission grant and seed funding from Total Healthcare PHO.

Our genesis lay in talks between Counties Manukau Police and its South Asian Police Advisory Board that wanted to address the problem of family harm in the South Auckland community.   

Advisory board member Ranjna Patel – also the cofounder of the Tāmaki Health GP network – decided to set up the Serenity Foundation to support and fundraise for a new service to be called Gandhi Nivas (meaning home of peace).

Sahaayta Counselling and Social Support came on board early with its team of registered counsellors, social workers, alcohol and drug practitioners, support workers and volunteers who work in the Gandhi Nivas houses. The mens' whanau are also offered support. 

We receive on-going funding and support from Counties Manukau Police, ACC, Total Healthcare PHO, Massey University, the Ministry of Social Development, Catholic Services, as well as business and private funders (see above).

Gandhi Nivas helps people of all ethnicities. See our results 

Helping men help themselves

A key aspect of family violence intervention is engaging offenders in their own rehabilitation. Gandhi Nivas helps men take a positive role in stopping violence against women.

To reduce offending, we work to educate each offender about the consequences of their action, challenging them to accept responsibility and helping them to seek support in changing their behaviour.

Men referred to Gandhi Nivas have been issued a police safety order* following an act of family harm. Families do not have to leave their homes because men are offered free counselling and emergency within 24 hours of referral. Some men who are concerned about their own actions also self-refer to Gandhi Nivas.

As well as providing men with a safe environment where they can do no harm, we offer them free counselling and support with referrals to social services.  

As awareness of our service has grown, we also have some men who use violence referring themselves to Gandhi Nivas, recognising that they need help.

Our team includes:

• counsellors
• social workers
• alcohol and drug practitioners
• support workers.

 *If a man is issued with a police safety order he must leave the home for a set period of time as determined by police.