A Far North trust dealing with poverty and family dysfunction is setting up a men's clinic for men who've abused their families.
He Korowai Trust manager Ricky Houghton Photo: RNZ / Lois Williams
He Korowai Trust manager Ricky Houghton said women and children were often forced to flee the family home after a domestic violence incident.
Removing the man from the home was fairer and less disruptive, Mr Houghton said.
Mothers and children - who were the innocent victims - could then sleep in their own beds, and their homes and lives could still function.
"The hope is that mum and the children can stay in the home and we just take the one person out," he said.
"In a few days when the heat's gone out of everything, we can get them [the partners] together and find out what that was all about; help them manage it and address the concerns that led to the flashpoint."
Far North men were going to prison at an alarming rate for family violence, Mr Houghton said.
Men arrested for family violence often ended up losing their jobs and, because they often had no credible bail address, they were kept in custody.
"But if they can be sent to the men's clinic they could keep working, going to their jobs to and from the clinic."
The clinic would have a live-in supervisor who had experience in dealing with family violence.
He Korowai Trust has bought a section in Kaitaia and a relocatable house to fit out as the clinic.