Government ministers will host a family violence summit in June in response to what they say is an horrific form of abuse in New Zealand.
Minister of Justice Amy Adams said family violence was a complex and significant issue, with the police responding to an incident every five minutes.
"And those are only the ones we know about.
"Across New Zealand there are large numbers of people working hard every day to combat this horrific form of abuse.
"The Family Violence Summit will bring together people from the sector to continue the conversation around how we break the pattern of family violence and reduce the harm."
Social Development Minister Anne Tolley said family violence had devastating impacts on individuals, families and communities and cost New Zealand more than $4 billion each year.
Non-governmental organisations, support workers, victims and former offenders would be invited to the summit, to be held in Wellington on 7 June.
