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Story: Family violence

Elder abuse

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Elder abuse

The Domestic Violence Act 1995 broadened the legal definition of family violence to include violence between same-sex partners, flatmates, carers and other family members. These changes were partly a response to growing awareness about such problems as elder abuse – the abuse of older people by carers or family members. This brochure, produced by Age Concern, advertises the Elder Abuse and Neglect Prevention Service.

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How to cite this page

Nancy Swarbrick, Family violence – Law and policing changes from the 1980s, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/ephemera/28294/elder-abuse (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Nancy Swarbrick, published 26 April 2011.