Legal charity to launch in 2026

11 Jul 2024

At the SAATS/NFSSAS Lead Clinicians online forum in June, Alison Mau provided an update on Tika – New Zealand’s first legal charity – which is being launched in 2026.

Tika combines innovative technology with legal expertise, and aims to address systemic access to justice, starting with the low reporting rate of sexual harm. Co-founders Alison Mau and barrister Zoe Lawton believe Tika could be the circuit-breaker needed to encourage more survivors to come forward and for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.

Tika will be available free to anyone who has experienced sexual harm in:

  • education

  • workplaces

  • business

  • sport

  • volunteer organisations

  • government organisations, and 

  • online spaces.

Through Tika's platform, people who have experienced sexual harm will be able to register securely online and log their details and those of the perpetrator. The software will search the database for a match on anyone who has been harmed by the same person. Matching a perpetrator to other victims/survivors could happen straight away, or it could take some months. Once a match is found the victims/survivors will be able to take group action with the help of Tika's specialist lawyers.

Alison says they’re planning to launch Tika in 2026, but this will be dependent on the level of funding they receive.

Find out more about Tika