The Abuse & Rape Crisis Support - Manawatu (ARCS - Manawatu) began in March 1982 in response to a number of sexual assaults that were happening in the community at that time. A public meeting was held to discuss what could be done to stop this violence occuring and from that meeting the Palmerston North Women's Neighbourhood Action Group was formed. The three main objectives of the Group were to form a rape crisis phone service, to hold public meetings across Palmerston North to raise the issue of sexual violence and to provide education on sexual violence to the public. The Palmerston North rape crisis phone line began operation in early November 1982.

In August 1984, the Rape Crisis office opened at Square Edge. Since then the organisation has moved from strength to strength, taking on paid employees and developing its services.

The organisation first became incorporated in 1986. We later changed our name in 2001 to the Manawatu Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre to reflect the geographic area covered by the Centre  and that our services cover all aspects of sexual violence. The service is now located in the Women's Centre on Waldegrave Street, Palmerston North.

Most recently in November 2009 our name was again changed to Abuse & Rape Crisis Support - Manawatu (ARCS - Manawatu) to more accurately reflect that the programmes we run,  also encompass the areas of family and domestic violence and anger management.