During a recent visit, Shakti Community Council founder Farida Sultana secured a room in the Dunedin Community House for a drop-in centre, and sought volunteers to help run it.
The organisation, which started in Auckland in 1995 after she emigrated to New Zealand from the United Kingdom, via Iran and Bangladesh, runs four women's refuges, drop-in centres and a 24-hour crisis line for ethnic women in New Zealand.
As a survivor of domestic abuse, who co-wrote a book about her experiences, Purple Dandelion, Ms Farida knew how important it was to have somewhere for ethnic women to turn.
She began looking for a centre here after she received reports from social agencies about the increasing demand for the service in Dunedin, and the organisation's South Island base was destroyed in the Christchurch earthquakes.
The Dunedin centre would open in a part-time capacity in the first week of October, with a co-ordinator already appointed.
Shakti counsellor and senior adviser Shila Nair, who joined Ms Farida on the trip along with senior adviser Lucia Tang, said the service differed from other welfare agencies because it was "culturally appropriate".
As it was run by other ethnic women, from Asia, Africa and the Middle East, those who used it received a greater level of cultural understanding.
"Often our women grew up with violence in their homes ... and they think that's part of life. Most of the women live in isolation, with men with power and control issues," Ms Nair said.
Along with securing the premises, the women also met police, English language groups, Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull and a group of about 25 immigrant women to set up a steering committee.
Everyone they talked to "knew someone who needed help", Ms Farida said.
"That's why I think it was easy, because they already understood what we are talking about, but they had nowhere to refer women to."
Ms Nair said the trip was "very productive", though there was "a huge amount of work to do".
- For more information, and to volunteer, visit www.shakti.org.nz or phone 0800-742584.
