More wahine are becoming confident about reporting domestic violence, the Maori Women's Refuge in Whangarei says.
Stacey Pepene, of Te Puna o Te Aroha, provides support and education programmes for Maori women who are victims of domestic violence.
She said compared to the past, when some women would be too afraid to report their partner or spouse, or when neighbours would try to mind their own business, more people were asking for help.
Ms Pepene said according to statistics domestic violence is getting worse, however from a refuge perspective she says it is actually just getting higher levels of reporting.
She says more women are actually feeling more safer and confident to seek help and to use the police and Child Youth and Family to support them.
Stacey Pepene says the reports don't necessarily reflect an increase in domestic violence, but what it does show is that more wahine are aware of the help that is available to them.
