Reports of domestic violence have almost doubled in the past year, with police especially disturbed by increasing numbers of children assaulting their parents.
Whangarei's top policeman, Inspector Paul Dimery, released figures this week showing reports of domestic violence in June were a staggering 79 per cent higher than in June 2007.
Mr Dimery said assaults by children on their parents were also becoming far more frequent.
On Monday, a 15-year-old boy in Regent was charged with assault with a weapon after throwing a butcher's knife at his mother. She was holding a three-year-old child at the time.
And on Tuesday, a 14-year-old boy was referred to Youth Aid after punching his stepfather seven times before his mother managed to restrain him.
Mr Dimery said when it came to tackling domestic violence, the community needed to take responsibility and not just rely on police.
"The clear message is that there are a large number of mostly men who have no ability to address any issues by any means other than violence. It's gutless and it's continuing and I think the community now needs to send a message.
"New Zealand is talking about it, but Whangarei won't accept it," Mr Dimery said.
But Mr Dimery said the huge increase in reported domestic violence did not mean more attacks were taking place.
People were becoming more willing to speak out, but there were still too many - including victims themselves - who refused to contact police.
Women's Refuge puts the increased numbers down to the success of the "It's not okay" anti-violence campaign, which began last year.
Spokesperson Catherine Delore said the steep increase seemed alarming, but in fact the statistics were starting to give a more accurate picture of what was happening.
"It's not that there's necessarily more domestic violence, it's just that people are willing to speak about it because there is a wider awareness."
The recent case of TV personality Tony Veitch - alleged to have beaten his girlfriend so badly she ended up temporarily in a wheelchair - had also helped bring the issue to people's attention. "It's one of those things that generates momentum. It means that there's more of a change towards people not tolerating it so much, which is exactly what needs to happen."
Tougher economic times - and alcohol - were contributing to the violence, Ms Delore said.
The co-ordinator of Tryphina House Women's Refuge in Whangarei, Robyn Blumsky, had noticed more people were phoning the refuge for information since the "It's not okay" campaign began.
"More people are accessing the services but not necessarily for the safe accommodation.
"We've been a lot busier working with women in the community. So I'm hoping that intolerance to domestic violence is growing."
Family members and neighbours were also stepping in and confronting the abuser or reporting them. "Abusers are beginning to get a strong message from our community that their behaviour will not be tolerated or kept hidden," she said.
Whangarei lawyer Dave Sayes said there had also been an increase in women assaulting men, with alcohol the main contributor. "No matter how much financial hardship people face, they seem to obtain alcohol one way or another and are therefore unable to deal with even the most minor of matters."
Reports of violence soar as kids assault their parents
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