Police and the Defence Force marked White Ribbon Day with a walk through central Wellington.
Among them was an officer whose harrowing experience as a child lead her to become a police officer.
As an eight-year-old, Sergeant Tania Kingi witnessed her father pull a knife on her mum - and quickly ran to get the police.
"I asked them to call the police because I thought dad was going to kill mum."
On Friday, she talked about the moment that changed her life, and made her one of those who came to help.
Watch the video to hear Sergeant Tania Kingi's story
Newshub.