Police in Waikato have gone to 325 domestic violence callouts since the start of December, an average of 17 a day.
Police are attributing the numbers to a volatile mix of higher temperatures, financial pressures and drinking.
Cases have ranged from arguments through to incidents involving firearms.
In one case the Armed Offenders Squad and the police helicopter from Auckland were called to an assault.
Maori Women's Refuge service manager Ruahine Albert said she expects the cases it deals with to rival the number seen two years ago, when there were 1200 cases for the month.
"About two weeks ago there were 55 cases over one weekend, and the previous weekend there were 34 cases, and on top of that the police will be dealing with additional cases."
Ms Albert says the refuge's centres are almost at capacity and at times in December they have been full.