This essay written by Alexis Harvey was first published in Women Together: a History of Women's Organisations in New Zealand in 1993. It was updated by Andrea Blacka and Anne Else in 2018.

Rape Crisis and Related Groups (RCRG) were set up to provide both support services for women and children survivors of rape and sexual abuse, and education and prevention programmes in the community. The work, carried out by trained volunteers, included individual and group counselling; advocacy work within the Court system and in dealings with the police, doctors, Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) and the Department of Social Welfare; and immediate crisis support, including a 24-hour phone-line in some areas. (Opening paragraph, written in 1993). This essay outlines the history of the National Collective of Rape Crisis and Related Groups of Aotearoa from 1986 - 2018.

About the 2018 update of Women together: To mark the 125th anniversary of women’s suffrage in 2018, New Zealand History prepared an online version of Women Together: A History of Women’s Organisations in New Zealand / Ngā Rōpū Wāhine o te Motu.

This important reference work was published in 1993 to mark the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage. For the online edition New Zealand History worked with the original editor, Anne Else, to update both the individual organisation entries and thematic overview essays. Entries on significant new organisations will be added later. Follow the link for more information. See also the NZFVC Timeline.

Record #6303