What are the opening hours?

Monday 10am - 3pm Tuesday 10am - 3pm Wednesday 10am - 3pm Thursday 10am - 3pm Friday 10am - 3pm

Te Whare Tāwharau: Sexual Violence Support and Prevention Centre

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Te Whare Tāwharau: Sexual Violence Support and Prevention Centre

Te Whare Tāwharau
A place of shelter to reduce the impact of sexual violence within our campus communities.

Here to support both staff and students at the University of Otago. We are one of the Student Support Services at the University of Otago, Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka.

25/05/2026

Today, new stalking laws officially come into effect in Aotearoa. Stalking is repeated unwanted behaviour that causes fear, distress, or intimidation, which can include...
• Constant message or calls
• Following or monitoring
• Showing up uninvited
• Online harassment or doxing
• Using social media, friends, workplaces or study spaces to keep tabs on someone

The new law creates a specific stalking offence with penalties of up to 5 years imprisonment and strengthens protections for people experiencing stalking.

This reform matters because stalking is not “romantic” or “harmless”, it’s about control, fear, and intimidation. For more information: https://www.justice.govt.nz/justice-sector-policy/key-initiatives/addressing-stalking/

24/05/2026

Due to staff shortages, please see amended walk-in hours for the week:
✧ Mon 25 May: Open 10am-12:30pm
✧ Tue 26 May: Open 10am-3pm
✧ Wed 27 May: Open 12:30pm-3pm
✧ Thu 28 May: Open 10am-3pm
✧ Fri 29 May: CLOSED
✧ Mon 1 June: CLOSED

If you were planning to visit, please email us and we’ll arrange an appointment: [email protected]
Some other support options:
Safe To Talk is a 24/7 s*xual harm helpline.
✧ Text: 4334 or call: 0800 044 334

1737 is a 24/7 helpline for mental health support.
✧ Call or text 1737

ŌCASA (Ōtepoti Communities Against S*xual Abuse) are located at 21 Dunbar St.
✧ Call (03) 474 1592 to check their availability.

20/05/2026

The centre will be closed Thu 21 & Fri 22 May. If you were planning to visit, please email us and we’ll arrange an appointment: [email protected]

Some other support options:
Safe To Talk is a 24/7 s*xual harm helpline.
✧ Text: 4334 or call: 0800 044 334

1737 is a 24/7 helpline for mental health support.
✧ Call or text 1737

ŌCASA (Ōtepoti Communities Against S*xual Abuse) are located at 21 Dunbar St.
✧ Call (03) 474 1592 to check their availability.

18/05/2026

“Love bombing” is when someone gives a new partner loads of attention, affection, and grand gestures early on, making things feel intense very quickly. It may seem romantic, but can actually be a way to manufacture closeness or dependency before trust is built.

🚩 Why this is a concern: Healthy relationships take time. Love bombing can skip that process, which might lead to...
• blurred boundaries
• pressure to move fast
• controlling behaviours like jealousy, isolation, or gaslighting

🧠 What to keep in mind: Not all big gestures are harmful and context matters. But if something feels off...
• slow things down
• check in with your boundaries
• reflect on how the relationship is affecting you

💚 Look out for yourself:
• Talk to someone you trust for perspective
• Focus on how you feel, not just how they’re trying to make you feel
• Remember, you’re allowed to step back or walk away and should be able to do that safely and without harassment or harm

⚠️ Bottom line: Real connection builds over time. If it feels rushed, overwhelming, or too good to be true, it’s worth paying attention to that feeling.

Photo: Veronika Trushkevich

13/05/2026

Your body belongs to you.

If you would like to speak with someone about an experience of s*xual harm, you can visit Te Whare Tāwharau during walk-in hours at 63 Clyde Street: 10am-3pm, Mon-Fri.

Or contact us to make an appointment:
✧ Txt/call: 021 278 3795
✧ Free call: 0800 479 379
✧ E-mail: [email protected]

Photo: Rylan Krupp

11/05/2026

The centre is closed today, Tuesday 12 May. If you were planning to visit, please email us and we’ll arrange an appointment: [email protected]

Some other support options:
Safe To Talk is a 24/7 s*xual harm helpline.
✧ Text: 4334 or call: 0800 044 334

1737 is a 24/7 helpline for mental health support.
✧ Call or text 1737

ŌCASA (Ōtepoti Communities Against S*xual Abuse) are located at 21 Dunbar St.
✧ Call (03) 474 1592 to check their availability.

05/05/2026

What is "R**e Culture"? Think of it like a pyramid. The most visible harm sits at the top but it’s held up by the “smaller” things we often ignore, like jokes, stereotypes and victim-blaming. If the base stays strong, the harm at the top continues.

What we laugh off, excuse or ignore supports and enables more serious harm to take place. This is how culture shapes violence... But it is also the key to how we can stop it.

28/04/2026

Why we're wearing denim today 👖 Denim Day is a global campaign that started in response to a harmful court ruling in Italy, where a r**e conviction was overturned because the victim was wearing tight jeans, with the court wrongly implying this meant consent.

In protest, women in the Italian Parliament wore jeans to stand in solidarity with the survivor. This act of resistance sparked what would become Denim Day, launched in 1999 by Peace Over Violence.

Today, Denim Day is about challenging victim-blaming, breaking down myths about s*xual violence, and standing with survivors. By wearing denim, we make a visible statement: clothing never equals consent.

Join us on Union Lawn today, Wed 29 April from 10am-2pm to make a keyring using scrap denim and other bits and bobs at the Earth Day Market with and

21/04/2026

Climate change and environmental stress don’t impact everyone equally.

Around the world, things like displacement, resource scarcity, and economic instability can increase vulnerability to s*xual harm and intimate partner violence. Building a more sustainable future is also part of building safer communities.

This Earth Day, we’re teaming up with to highlight ways you can get involved in local sustainability mahi right here in Ōtepoti.

Whether it’s volunteering, community projects, or small everyday changes, it all contributes to a safer, more equitable world.

Today, we’re also sending aroha to our friends and whānau in Whanganui-a-Tara, where a state of emergency is currently in place. We hope you are safe and supported.

Check out some local mahi >> and see link in bio for full listings on Priceless Store.

15/04/2026

P**n vs Reality: E̷v̷e̷r̷y̷o̷n̷e̷ ̷w̷a̷n̷t̷s̷ ̷i̷t̷ ̷"̷r̷o̷u̷g̷h̷"̷

Media (especially p**n) shapes what we think is “normal” s*x. And “rough s*x” has become way more visible. But here’s the reality:
•) Lots of people have tried it
•) Many women & gender diverse people say it was u͟n͟w͟a͟n͟t͟e͟d͟ or u͟n͟e͟n͟j͟o͟y͟e͟d͟

P**n is performance.
It often skips the most important part: CONSENT
S*x without clear, enthusiastic consent = harmful (and sometimes criminal).

“Rough s*x” is an umbrella term. It can include a wide range of verbal and physical acts, from mild to intense.

That means: If someone says they’re “into rough s*x”…
❗That could mean very different things to different people.

Don’t assume - ask
✔ What does that look like for you?
✔ What are you into / not into?
✔ What are your boundaries?

Without these conversations, it’s easy for boundaries to be crossed and for harm to be dismissed as “rough s*x gone wrong”.

02/04/2026

The centre is closed Fri 3 to Tues 7 April. If you were planning to visit, please email us and we’ll arrange an appointment: [email protected]

Some other support options:
Safe To Talk is a 24/7 s*xual harm helpline.
✧ Text: 4334 or call: 0800 044 334

1737 is a 24/7 helpline for mental health support.
✧ Call or text 1737

ŌCASA (Ōtepoti Communities Against S*xual Abuse) are located at 21 Dunbar St.
✧ Call (03) 474 1592 to check their availability.

Address

63 Clyde Street
Dunedin
9016

Opening Hours

Monday	10am - 3pm
Tuesday	10am - 3pm
Wednesday	10am - 3pm
Thursday	10am - 3pm
Friday	10am - 3pm

Telephone

0800 479 379

Website

http://www.otago.ac.nz/tewharetawharau

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