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King’s Honours recipients Gandhi Nivas founder Dame Ranjna Patel and Total Healthcare PHO CEO Mark Vella have been recognised for their mahi preventing family violence.

Dame Ranjna became a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order for her service to family violence prevention, ethnic communities and health. While Mark became an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit and his citation mentions his work to secure funding for Gandhi Nivas.

Just over 10 years ago Dame Ranjna founded Gandhi Nivas – the first New Zealand family-harm reduction initiative to provide free 24/7 wrap-around services that give men the opportunity to engage in early rehabilitation and support to women and their families to help keep them safe.

Never one to sit on the sidelines, she truly believes the more you give back to the community, the more you will be rewarded, so long hours volunteering are part of her DNA – along with not giving up!

“If you listen to people at the grassroots and work out a solution that works for them, you are more likely to get buy-in for a process that's completely different,” Dame Ranjna says.

“You also need to innovate and tackle issues at their root causes to make true change. For example, to address family harm I believe you must work with those who perpetrate it to help support long-term behavioural change and keep families and partners safe.”

Overseas police regularly visit the service due to Gandhi Nivas’s international reputation for successfully reducing family harm by working in partnership with New Zealand Police.

The Gandhi Nivas service Dame Ranjna founded is also an inspiration for prevention services around the country and internationally.

Dedication to holistic healthcare

Mark has been recognised for his mahi over nearly 30 years breaking down barriers to ensure people most in need of healthcare get the support they need.

The seed funding and mentoring Total Healthcare PHO provides for programmes, like Gandhi Nivas, through the government’s FFP, was critical in securing them more funding. In the case of Gandhi Nivas, the PHO’s support resulted in funding from MSD and ACC.

“I hope this honour, that I am so humbled to receive, will showcase the value of PHOs and how they can help to tackle the country’s toughest issues related to physical and mental wellness and, equally importantly, the social determinants of health. PHOs can only achieve this through the primary healthcare funding we are allocated from the Flexible Funding Pool,” Mark says.

Governor General Dame Cindy Kiro has praised the work of Gandhi Nivas in helping to break the inter-generational cycle of family harm in Aotearoa.

Speaking at Government House in Auckland during Gandhi Nivas’s 10th anniversary celebrations on 31 March, Dame Cindy said the initiative’s work means women, children and families are not impacted by violence again.

“It was so heartening to read that Massey University’s research established nearly 60 percent of men who have been through Gandhi Nivas have not reoffended,” Dame Cindy said.

“You have shown that it is possible to rehabilitate offenders and to achieve long-term change in behaviour and help heal their families.”

Dame Cindy also paid tribute to those men “who have followed the Gandhi Nivas pathway to become a better version of themselves”.

“Ernest Hemmingway once said there is nothing noble in being superior to others – true nobility is in being superior to your former self. It takes courage to confront our demons, to recognise that change is possible, and to commit to learning new behaviours.”

She thanked Gandhi Nivas for its work helping men who are seeking support to change and for strengthening families and communities.

Dame Cindy noted she had spent much of her life and career, including as Children’s Commissioner, advocating for the protection and wellbeing of the most vulnerable member in society. “Like you, I welcome every intervention that can break the silence and the cycle of domestic violence and protect our families.”

Fresh approach to family harm supports whānau

Gandhi Nivas founder Ranjna Patel paid tribute to everyone who had supported the initiative’s fresh approach to family harm that removed the perpetrator, instead of the victim, from the home.

The initiative has been supported by “an incredible community of people” including New Zealand Police, Total Healthcare PHO, Massey University researchers, the Serenity Foundation Board, the Gandhi Nivas Advisory Board and generous donors, Ranjna said.

She praised Sahaayta Counselling Services, led by Sucharita Varma, for developing a programme that focused on supporting the whole extended whānau, not just men.

Ranjna also praised Total Healthcare CEO Mark Vella for his constant support of Gandhi Nivas over the past 10 years. Speaking after the event, Ranjna said Total Healthcare is the only PHO to so extensively support social determinants of health and mental wellness.

Gandhi Nivas opened its first home in December 2014 to address a big gap in the system – the need for a free 24/7 service with qualified counsellors, she said.

Ranjna paid special tribute to the Massey University researchers who have studied Gandhi Nivas for 10 years and the vision of the late Professor James Liu in supporting the research funding and to lead researchers Professor Mandy Morgan and Associate Professor Leigh Coombes.

Gandhi Nivas makes “phenomenal difference”

At an earlier event in March in Wellington at Parliament Police Commissioner Richard Chambers thanked Ranjna and the Gandhi Nivas team on behalf of “the men, the women and the boys and the girls” who have been helped and would be helped by Gandhi Nivas.

“You have made a phenomenal difference for 10 years and I know that will continue,” he said.

“Police leaders current and past – we love people like you," said Commissioner Chambers. "Policing is tough and we can’t do it on our own.

“It’s a credit to the relationships that we have - and Gandhi Nivas is one example of the community partnerships that make such a difference.”

He said family harm took its toll on police as human beings “because it’s some of the most complex work police officers deal with every day.

“When we have initiatives like Gandhi Nivas coming along to the rescue – not of police but the people it’s designed to support – that’s success. And Ranjna, thank you very, very much...”

Valued by police and ethnic communities

Police and Ethnic Communities Minister Mark Mitchell spoke about his experience on the policing frontline. “The reality of this in my policing career was the houses where we saw children cowering under beds or hiding in wardrobes or clinging to a mother who’s knocked out and lying on the floor... you’re having a real impact on those families,” he said.

“With Gandhi Nivas having supported over 6,300 men and their immediate and wider families through their programme, this equates to a great return on investment.

“It’s a service highly valued by police officers on the frontline – because they know it helps. They know it’s impactful, and they know that no matter the time of day or night, people needing assistance can receive it immediately.”

He also noted the Ministry for Ethnic Communities values Gandhi Nivas for its culturally sensitive and linguistically appropriate services.

Gandhi Nivas’ holistic response to family harm, mental health, and alcohol and other drugs (AOD) crises means people are accepting specialist support when otherwise they might refuse it.

That’s according to a Massey University researcher, Hazel Buckingham, who has worked in family harm and is now part of a team studying Gandhi Nivas’ work.

She says the Gandhi Nivas team understands that issues of mental health, family violence and AOD are entangled and often underpinned by compounding and connected issues. The team can build relationships to enable the continuity of care and connect men and families with the services they need.

The family harm early intervention service helps to keep women and families safe and men get the early support they need to change their behaviour.

Massey’s latest study into Gandhi Nivas work, released in February 2023, reviewed how Gandhi Nivas staff responded to men involved in family harm who were also experiencing mental distress.

At the launch of the new study Hazel gave an example of how Gandhi Nivas’ immediate response to calls for help makes a difference.

“I remember a man who showed up unannounced at the whare one day (as many often do), he had been welcomed to stay at the whare almost two years earlier, and the team had tried to support him in getting help for his experiences with alcohol and drug addiction, but he was not ready to engage at the time.

“However, on this day, two years later, he had driven straight to the whare from work, because he had decided that today was the day, he was ready to engage with alcohol and other drugs support and give up his drug use.”

Hazel said staff immediately caught up with the man over a cuppa and kōrero to understand his needs and stayed with him to support him through assessment, detox and other processes of change.

Gandhi Nivas staff refer to its support not as a service but as a home where you are always welcome, she says.

Bridging gaps in care

Hazel says she undertook the research because she noticed family violence and mental health crises often co-occurred but support systems addressed them as individual issues.

The result is increased pressure on families to traverse two seemingly separate systems and experience gaps in the care they were offered.

But Gandhi Nivas offers men the opportunity to stay for free at its “homes of peace” in three locations across Auckland. Counsellors and social workers are available 24/7 to provide free counselling and social and cultural support to men and their families and connect them with other services.

“By listening to, being with and sitting with women and their families at home, as well as with the men who are staying in the Gandhi Nivas whare, the team begin with families by forming an understanding of the distressing conditions of daily lives and their specific immediate needs,” Hazel explains.

“Through addressing families’ immediate needs and being with them during the moments of intensity after a crisis, it becomes possible for a caring process to unfold. With time, trust and caring connections, Gandhi Nivas professionals sit with and be with families to discuss sensitive issues such as violence in the home and serious mental wellness concerns.”

Gandhi Nivas changes the lives of the whānau it helps and a new report quantifies the amazing social value to New Zealand of this work preventing family harm.

The GoodMeasures report prepared by ImpactLab for Gandhi Nivas found for every $1 spent on Gandhi Nivas’ Ōtāhuhu house it has returned $12.80 in social value through its support of families based on the two years from January 2018 to December 2019.

It estimates $15,627,480 in social value was created from this house that is one of three Gandhi Nivas locations in Tāmaki Makaurau.

During the period studied 1,856 people were offered help including 650 main clients (53% of whom were Māori or Pasifika), 443 partners, 411 children and 352 other family members.

Benefits from the programme noted in the report included  improved: physical and mental health, housing outcomes, employment opportunities and academic achievement. It also considered reductions in risky behaviour, addiction, asthma, family violence, offending, child placement and victimisation.

The GoodMeasures report notes the early support Gandhi Nivas offers families ensures that the healing process can start before the damage sets in.

Men are provided with counselling services, practical supports and care plans that aim to keep women and children safe, the report notes.

“The service recognises the impact of family harm on all members of a household, family or wider community by allowing participants to define their family group – the system that people identify as belonging to – all of whom can receive holistic support.

“The respite model that Gandhi Nivas operates facilitates better outcomes for perpetrators and victims. By providing immediate withdrawal from the environment and situation that led to an incident of family violence, perpetrators are able to more effectively address their behaviour and consider the triggers that led to the event.

“For victims, remaining in their homes allows them to maintain access to their natural support networks and avoid the trauma of being displaced from their family home.”

Find out more about the report prepared by ImpactLab:

Read the full GoodMeasures report.

Read a summary.

A $25,000 donation to Gandhi Nivas from the Light for Life fundraiser evening will be gratefully used to help our work supporting families experiencing family harm.

The August 7 fundraising event brought together communities to raise funds and awareness for charities that enhance the wellbeing of people in Aotearoa.

Gandhi Nivas founder Ranjna Patel and staff from Sahaayta Counselling and Social Support were among people from charities supported by the event who attended the fundraiser.

Light for Life Charity Trust raised the funds through sponsorship, donations and an auction. It has been supporting charities through the event since 2016.

Ranjna Patel has been named Trade Me New Zealand Innovator of the Year - Te Pou Whakairo o te Tau at the New Zealander of The Year Awards 2021. Ranjna is the founder of Gandhi Nivas, cofounder and a director of Tāmaki Health and executive trustee of Total Healthcare PHO. 

Ranjna is the first woman to have won the Innovator of the Year award, which recognises inspiring Kiwis whose game-changing discoveries, research or inventions are creating a better New Zealand. 

She was also one of three finalists in the New Zealander of the Year category, alongside Muslim community leader Farid Ahmed and microbiologist Siouxsie Wiles.

In both categories Ranjna was recognised for her work with Gandhi Nivas, a groundbreaking intervention programme which works with perpetrators of family harm. A recent five-year study by Massey University has shown that the programme — which provides free shelter and counselling for men who have been issued a Police Safety Order — has been proven to reduce reoffending by 60%. 



Accepting the award for Innovator of the Year on Wednesday night, Ranjna said, “This is very very special… I’m blown away.”

She said she was surprised to win the category because the Gandhi Nivas programme was less about innovation, and more “just common sense.”  

“When I heard the police say the problem, and the counsellors say the solution, it was just a matter of putting it together. Why had no one thought of it – that men need help without getting a criminal record?


“If we as a society can be proactive than reactive to problems, I think we could go very far.”


Presenting the finalists for New Zealander of the Year award, host Scotty Morrison said, “New Zealand has the highest rate of reported family violence in the developed world, so the importance of the revolutionary mahi that Ranjna is doing truly cannot be underestimated.”

Ranjna says she hopes that the recognition from this award will help bring awareness to the Gandhi Nivas programme, which currently has three houses in Auckland with plans to expand nationwide.

“Because the concept of working with men is so foreign, just getting it out there is such a big thing. Everybody knows Women’s Refuge and it’s in every major city centre, but there’s currently no support for men outside of Auckland. It has to be national in order to get momentum.”

This article originally appeared in Times Online, 15 March, 2021. 

How does it feel to be one of the three finalists in Kiwibank’s New Zealander of the Year Awards, Ranjna Patel’s granddaughter asked her nana? “Did you ever think you would be one of the top three?”

Apart from the congratulatory messages from every corner of the country, it is a question the visionary has been repeatedly asked.

On March 1, an announcement was made of Patel, co-founder and director of Tamaki Health and social entrepreneur, being a finalist in the prestigious Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year 2021 Awards.

The other two finalists are Farid Ahmed, a Muslim community leader who became the face of forgiveness after the March 15 terror attacks in Christchurch and Dr Siouxsie Wiles, microbiologist and science communicator.

Patel is also a finalist in the Trade Me Innovator of the Year category.

Talking about the award that celebrates and honours extraordinary Kiwis who inspire, give hope and lead, the Sunnyhills resident says she feels very privileged and fortunate.

“This has given me a voice at so many levels where I can talk about diversity and inclusion.

It has opened many doors to be heard, given me a platform. I am aware there is a use-by date that goes by quickly and I intend to make the most of it,” says Patel, who has won several awards.

These include winning Westpac Women of Influence – Community Hero in 2020; IBA Best Businesswoman of the Year, EY Entrepreneur of the Year – Master Category and the Deloitte’s Top 200 Awards – Visionary Leader.

Yet Patel admits that it feels a bit hollow being bestowed such an honour considering so many people have contributed to her journey.

The third generation Kiwi-Indian is quick to acknowledge those who have been instrumental in establishing Gandhi Nivas, an innovative early intervention and prevention, residential facility for perpetrators of domestic violence.

“I am going to acknowledge them at the awards night on March 31 starting with Sucharita and the Sahaayta team of counsellors; the young constable Gurpreet Arora who pushed for the idea of Gandhi Nivas. All this wouldn’t have been possible without the support of deputy commissioner John Tims, a true enabler; as well as National Engagement manager NZ Police, Rakesh Naidoo for moving government rank in Wellington. All I did was look outside the square and do my bit,” she says.

The result of a five-year study on the efficacy of Gandhi Nivas (a partnership with ACC, NZ Police, counselling and social services) by Massey University, found that by working with perpetrators of family violence, Gandhi Nivas had prevented almost 60 per cent of the men from reoffending.

Patel is equally grateful to the “amazing team of doctors, nurses and staff at Tamaki Health,” New Zealand’s largest independent healthcare group.

“We started our first clinic in Otara by borrowing 110 per cent. I was the receptionist, accountant and cleaner while my husband Kanti treated patients. Today I’m proud to say that if I ask our team with a positive, can-do attitude, “can you jump for me, they will ask how high?” says Patel.

Ranjna won the Westpac Women of Influence New Zealand Community Hero Award 2020 for restoring hope and empowering change through her work.

On International Women's Day 2021, Westpac went along to Gandhi Nivas to catch up with Ranjna.

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Gandhi Nivas founder and director, Ranjna Patel, has been named as a finalist in the 2021 Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards ­­– Ngā Tohu Pou Kōhure o Aotearoa. 

Now in it’s 12th year, the awards celebrate Kiwis from all walks of life who use their passion to make Aotearoa a better place.

When Ranjna Patel was asked to offer guidance around family violence in in the South Asian community in 2013, she identified a crucial missing step in family violence intervention – engaging offenders in their own rehabilitation. In 2014, she established the first Gandhi Nivas home for perpetrators in Otahuhu, providing innovative early intervention and prevention services for Kiwi men. A study undertaken by Massey University looked at men five years before entering Gandhi Nivas and after, and found 60% of men did not re-offend.

Ranjna is one of three finalists for New Zealander of the Year 2021, alongside microbiologist Siouxie Wiles and Christchurch shooting survivor and community leader Farid Ahmed.

Ranjna is also a finalist in the Trade Me New Zealand Innovator of the Year/Te Pou Whakairo O Te Tau category.

Miriama Kamo, Te Koruru – Patron of the Awards, says: “In these challenging times, we believe compassion, commitment and creative solutions are key to keeping our communities connected. Across the world, intolerance and misinformation seek to divide us - but our three finalists look to inform, to uplift, and to unite. We are proud to present them as the finalists for the next Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year – Te Pou Whakarae o Aotearoa.”

Winners will be announced at the New Zealander of the Year Awards Gala Dinner in Auckland on Wednesday 31 March 2021.

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Ranjna Patel has been has been awarded ‘Community Hero’ at the 2020 Women of Influence Awards for her work with Gandhi Nivas. 

The Women of Influence awards celebrate New Zealand women who are helping the next generation positively shape their future.

Ranjna impressed the judges by bringing multiple parties together, including police and social support services, to reduce rates of family violence.

"Our work with Gandhi Nivas was acknowledged and the partnership with NZ Police and the fabulous Team Sahaayta lead by Sucharita has made this a success," says Ranjna.

"The evening had some amazing women being recognised. I was proud to be the first Indian to win a WOI award." 

Thanks to a five-year case study by Massey University, the Gandhi Nivas programme, which provides emergency housing and counselling to the perpetrators of family violence, has been proven to reduce reoffending by 60 per cent. 

Ranjna adds this latest award to countless other business and personal and professional achievements. She was named an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2017 and received a Queen’s Service Medal in 2009.

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A major five-year study by Massey University proves that Gandhi Nivas’ interventionist model works.

The results of the study, which were presented at Parliament on 30 June 2020, found that by working directly with perpetrators of family violence, Gandhi Nivas was able to prevent almost 60% of the men who have taken part in the programme from reoffending.

Massey University’s Professor Mandy Morgan co-led the research.

She says: “The team’s evaluation provides insights and data on the success of the Gandhi Nivas programme, and offers hope that properly resourced early intervention can contribute to addressing our very real problem of violence in our homes."

Emergency housing and counseling provided

The Gandhi Nivas programme, which is partially funded by ACC, provides emergency housing and counselling to men who have been issued with a Police Safety Order (PSO) following an act of family harm. Participating agencies describe the initiative as innovative and ground-breaking.

Once a man is issued with a PSO, he must leave the family home for a set period of time. It’s at this point that some men are taken by Police to one of three Gandhi Nivas homes in Ōtāhuhu, Te Atatū and Papakura. This immediately decreases the likelihood of further family harm, increases safety for the family, and provides the offender with an opportunity to begin the process of behavioural change.

Addressing the complexity of family harm

Police Deputy Commissioner, Wallace Haumaha says “This research demonstrates that by providing immediate support alongside early intervention for the perpetrator, victim and whānau, we can address the complexity of family harm,” he said.

Ranjna Patel, the founder of Gandhi Nivas, says the Massey report’s findings provide a compelling proof of concept for the interventionist model.

“If you want to see transformational change in this country you have to work with the men who are inflicting violent behaviour in the family home. It’s important to support the victims of domestic violence, but that won’t change a man’s behaviour. To end violent behavior, you’ve got to find and address its source.”

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Gandhi Nivas was excited to be invited by Governor General Dame Patsy Reddy to visit her at Government House in Auckland to talk about its work to prevent family harm.

Founder Ranjna Patel was joined at the visit on the 8th of August by those who helped establish and support the project, including representatives from Total Healthcare PHO, police, Sahaayta Counselling Services and Massey University.

Ranjna says it is wonderful that Dame Patsy showed such a strong interest in the work of Gandhi Nivas and its unique way of helping prevent harm by providing early 24/7 help to support families.

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Gandhi Nivas founder Ranjna Patel has received numerous honours in recognition of her work to provide counselling and emergency housing for men to reduce family violence.

In 2017, she became an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) and won the business and innovation section of the 2017 NEXT Woman of the Year Awards. Ranjna was among six women honoured in the Woman of the Year Awards for their contributions in New Zealand and abroad, making history and transforming the lives of people in need.

In December 2016, Ranjna won the Deloitte Top 200 Visionary Leader award. At Gandhi Nivas's one-year celebrations, Ranjna was awarded a New Zealand Police honour – the Challenge Coin. Ranjna received the coin, usually reserved for police staff, for her commitment to reducing family violence through Gandhi Nivas.

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December 2018 marks the four-year anniversary of Gandhi Nivas and its work to prevent family violence.

Founder Ranjna Patel paid tribute at anniversary celebrations to everyone who had put in “the hard yards” that led to the success of Gandhi Nivas, especially the “true heroes” – police and Sahaayta Counselling.

Gandhi Nivas has helped more than 1100 families through its first home in Otahuhu. Two new houses opened in Auckland this year – the Te Atatu house has helped 190 families and the Papakura house 65 families.

Overcoming the behaviour patterns that lead to family harm are difficult and the work police in Auckland put into making sure its officers are aware they can refer people to the services Gandhi Nivas offers is vital, Mrs Patel said. She noted when men are referred to Gandhi Nivas for counselling and emergency housing, staff also offer support to the women who have the courage to call police.

Professor Mandy Morgan from Massey University’s School of Psychology spoke about the research projects under way on Gandhi Nivas. Changing behaviour is a long and ongoing process and Gandhi Nivas provides support when men are ready and want help, Professor Morgan said.

Women who have been interviewed for research projects speak about how vital it is they can get support from Gandhi Nivas 24/7, seven days a week, and that helps give them strength to endure their family’s crisis, she said.

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Gandhi Nivas and Sahaayta Counselling & Social Support have signed a new agreement with NZ Police to reflect their expansion in Auckland.

The first Gandhi Nivas house opened in Otahuhu in 2014. The second house opened in Te Atatu in March 2018 and a third house is due to offically open in Papakura in September 2018.

Superintendent John Tims, Assistant Commissioner Districts, pictured with Gandhi Nivas founder Ranjna Patel and Sahaayta manager Sucharita Varma, signed the agreement on behalf of NZ Police.

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The second Gandhi Nivas house in Auckland has officially opened and will help keep more families safe by providing early help to men involved in family violence.

ACC Minister Iain Lees-Galloway opened the Te Atatu service on 16 August. ACC provides funding to Gandhi Nivas as part of its violence prevention strategy to reduce harm caused by violence at home.

Early results from the first Gandhi Nivas house show a substantial reduction in the number of men offending after intervention. The funding helps address the gap in available services for perpetrators and wrap-around services for families. Gandhi Nivas also receives funding from MSD, Total Healthcare PHO and through donations.

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The third Gandhi Nivas house has been officially opened in Papakura by Manukau East MP Jenny Salesa, Minister for Ethnic Communities and Associate Minister of Health.

At the 7 September opening, the minister spoke of her strong support for the work of Gandhi Nivas in helping to prevent family violence. Counties Manukau District Commander Superintendent Jill Rogers said the ability of police in Auckland to refer people to Gandhi Nivas made colleagues across the country jealous.

The Papakura house has been dedicated to the late Vivek Varma, husband of Sahaayta Counselling & Social Support manager Sucharita Varma, in honour of his contribution to Gandhi Nivas.

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