Victims’ Rights

The Victims’ Rights Act 2002 (the Victims’ Rights Act) is a New Zealand law that details specific rights for victims of crime. It details obligations for some government agencies to notify registered victims of certain events relating to their offender.

A small subset of offenders and alleged offenders need to be assessed or treated for their mental health or intellectual needs in a hospital or a care facility. When this occurs the Victims’ Rights Act sets out exceptions to the Privacy Act 2020 allowing registered victims to receive certain notifications including prior notice of the persons first unescorted leave and first unescorted overnight leave from hospital.

Publications

• Victims' Rights in the Health System: Guidance for Directors of Area Mental Health Services, compulsory care coordinators, care managers, victim coordinators
• Victims’ Rights in the Health System: Your rights as a registered victim of a person detained in hospital for mental health treatment

Related websites and information

• Victims' information for people affected by crime. A Ministry of Justice victims’ website that has information for victims (including information on the Victim Notification Register).
• Special Patients and Restricted Patients: Guidelines for Regional Forensic Mental Health Services. A Ministry of Health publication.
• Submission form for victims of special patients (WORD, 41 KB)

Change your details

If you are a registered victim of an offender detained in health services and you want to update your contact details or no longer wish to receive notices please contact the relevant person below.  

For offenders in Mental Health Services

Region	Contact  person		Postal address	Email	Phone
Auckland	Director of Area Mental Health Services - Forensic: Dr Krishna Pillai		Regional Forensic Services, Waitemata District Health Board, Private Bag 19986, Avondale, Auckland 1746	[email protected]	09 815 5166
Waikato	Director of Area Mental Health Services - Forensic: Dr Peter Dean		Puawai: Midland Regional Forensic Psychiatric Service, Henry Rongomau Bennett Centre, Private Bag 3200, Hamilton 3240	[email protected]	07 858 0970
Central	Director of Area Mental Health Services - Forensic: Dr Jackie Short		Te Korowai Whariki Central Regional Forensic Service, Papatuanuku, PO Box 50233, Porirua 5240	[email protected]	04 918 2470
Canterbury	Director of Area Mental Health Services – Forensic: Dr Sigi Schmidt		Canterbury District Health Board, Hillmorton Hospital, Private Bag 4733, Christchurch 8140	[email protected]	03 339 1136
Southern	Director of Area Mental Health Services – Forensic: Ms Ruth Manning		Southern District Health Board, DAMHS Office, Private Bag 1921, Dunedin, 9016	[email protected]	03 474 0999
Ministry of Health	Office of the Director of Mental Health and Addiction Services		Office of the Director of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Ministry of Health, PO Box 5013, Wellington 6145	[email protected]	04 496 2000

For offenders in Intellectual Disability Services

Region	Contact  person	Postal address	Email	Phone
Nationwide	Director of Area Mental Health Services: Jeff Hammond	MHAID Service 3DHB Head Office, Attention: DAMHS, P.O Box 50233, Porirua	[email protected]	04 381 1656
Ministry of Health	Chief Clinical Advisor, Disability	Ministry of Health, PO Box 5013, Wellington 6145	[email protected]	04 496 2000