Our history
Whangārei Rape Crisis (WRC) grew out of the 1970s feminist movement advocating for women’s equality. After a local seminar on women’s health, a group of volunteers identified a need and established Rape Crisis in 1981, offering a crisis line, support, and education to raise awareness of sexual violence. From 1986 to 2017, Whangārei was part of the National Collective of Rape Crisis and Related Groups Aotearoa, contributing to a unified national voice based on shared feminist values, bicultural practice, training, and advocacy.
Our team
Our team is a whānau of dedicated professionals with backgrounds in counselling, social work, and community support. We’re committed to ongoing learning, collaboration, and supporting health and wellbeing.
Ange Jones
General Manager
Francine Johnson
Practice Lead • Bachelor of Counselling
Amanda MacFarlane
Court Support Coordinator • Bachelor of Applied Social Work
Brenda Marshall • Ngāti Pikiao
Social Worker • Bachelor of Applied Social Sciences (Social Work) and Certificate in Child Protection
Robyn Lambourne • Ngāti Kahungunu
Social Worker • Diploma of Social and Community Work
Lisa Hoeta • Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Whātua, Ngāti Tama, Te Atiawa
Support Worker • NZ Diploma in Whānau Ora (Level 5)
Clare Maguire
Support Worker
Our regional partners
Te Tai Tokerau Sexual Violence Prevention Network is led by six specialist services, co-chaired by Whangārei Rape Crisis and Te Whare Ruruhau o Meri. Together with partners, we work to prevent and heal mahi tūkino / sexual violence through collaboration, relationship-building, advocacy, and an evolving regional strategy. Our vision is safe, thriving communities free from mahi tūkino / sexual violence.
Te Whare Ruruhau O Meri
Miriam Centre
Korowai Tumanako
Tautoko Tāne Male Survivors Aotearoa
SOS Kaipara Charitable Trust
Our supporters
Our board
Our board provides good governance that enables the effective delivery and growth of our services. The Board guides strategy to achieve our goals, serve our community, and ensure the organisation operates in a legal, ethical, and effective manner.
Janice Millman
Board Chair
Jamie Chisnall
Treasurer
Megan Neill
Secretary
Rosie Anderson
Louisa Kingi
Kimberley Smyth
Strategic plans & reports
Download our key reports that guide our work to eliminate rape and sexual violence. The Strategic Plan 2024–2026 outlines our priorities, while the Whangārei Rape Crisis Annual Report 2023–2024 shares the stories of those we support and our commitment to survivors across Whangārei District and Te Tai Tokerau. Additionally, we are one of six specialist organisations leading the Te Tai Tokerau Sexual Violence Prevention Network (TTTSVPN) Strategy 2023–2028.
Annual Report 2023 - 2024
Strategic Plan 2024 - 2026
TTTSVPN Strategy 2023 - 2028
Latest updates
Apr 2025
Rape Awareness Week 2025
Mar 2025
Relaunch of the Te Tai Tokerau Sexual Violence Prevention Strategy
Feb 2025
A gentle new face at Whangārei Rape Crisis
