This paper describes several evaluation projects focused on whether the New Zealand Domestic Violence Act 1995 was achieving its aims for adult protected persons and children. Several government agencies with an interest in the Act collaboratively planned a programme of research and evaluation. The paper discusses processes for developing and commissioning evaluations. The authors consider that elements of good practice to be drawn from these processes are involving programme providers and other stakeholders at all stages of the evaluation process, allowing sufficient time and resources for a face-to-face process, involving specialist advisers, and having the contract manager take on the roles of enabler, facilitator, and bridge builder. The evaluation findings were generally positive, although the programme providers identified a number of issues which are noted in the paper. Utilisation of the evaluations included programme providers gaining contracts to expand their services, using the evaluation reports for teaching and training and implementing the good practice documented. Subsequent policy and regulatory changes to the Act are also discussed.