Nearly 1700 domestic violence reports were made to Wanganui police in the past year.
Figures released to APNZ show 1670 domestic violence incidents were reported in Wanganui in the 12 months to June 30.
Jigsaw Whanganui executive officer Tim Metcalfe, who has been involved with community support services in Wanganui for 20 years, said more people were speaking out against domestic violence.
"Anecdotally, there's the sense that people are seeking help and seeking assistance.
"There's [also] been a significant increase in understanding the impact for children of witnessing family violence."
But some things hadn't changed, he added.
"The biggest thing I continually come across is the need that some people have to exercise power over others, and they'll often exercise it over the most vulnerable."
Nationally, close to 90,000 domestic violence incidents were reported in the past year.
A similar number of calls were made to the Women's Refuge hotline during the same period - with nearly 86,000 crisis calls received.
Twenty-three family violence deaths were investigated by police.
APNZ
Domestic Violence
One in three women experience psychological or physical abuse from their partners in their lifetime.
On average 14 women, six men and 10 children are killed by a family member each year.
On average, 224 women and children seek a Women's Refuge bed each night.
Last financial year, Refuge advocates responded to 30,648 police referrals.
Source: Women's Refuge
Get Help
If you or someone you know is being abused - tell someone.
Police: 111
Women's Refuge Helpline: 0800 REFUGE
Family Violence Information Line: 0800 456 450
