Social agencies and police believe the figures could be viewed as positive, in that more people are talking about the issue and more victims are speaking out.
The number of domestic incidents flagged by Southern District police as family violence has increased substantially in the past three years.
The number of incidents rose 20% from 2800 in 2005 to 3330 in 2007 and police expect a substantial increase again this year.
More women and children are using Women's Refuge services in Dunedin.
Southern police district family violence co-ordinator Senior Sergeant Kelvin Lloyd said domestic violence was difficult to measure.
Police and social agencies knew it was happening, but were getting a better picture only now thanks to better reporting.
More victims were reporting assaults, but police had also noticed a trend to more anecdotal reporting by neighbours, friends or family, Snr Sgt Lloyd said.
However, police did not believe the number of incidents reported reflected the true picture, as a large number were never reported formally.
Police statistics showed the number of reported family violence incidents was rising.
Snr Sgt Lloyd attributed this to a recent media campaign, a change in the police approach to family violence (from reactive to preventive) and a much closer working relationship with Child, Youth and Family and organisations such as Women's Refuge.
Te Whare Pounamu Dunedin Women's Refuge case worker Wenda Muir said the organisation was busier than ever.
The way agencies dealing with family violence victims worked more closely together was generating much more awareness from the community, which led to more referrals to the refuge.
Police were also now more responsive to family violence, had more empathy and understanding of it and were better at recording domestic violence events, she said.
Snr Sgt Lloyd said keeping families together and safe would not be possible without organisations, like the refuge, that worked with victims.
"I cannot speak highly enough of the groups we have in the district. They work on a shoestring budget, do fantastic work for victims and a lot of it is volunteer work, rather than paid.
"I take my hat off to them."
Te Whare Pounamu Dunedin Women's Refuge is holding its annual appeal week from July 21-27.
Collection buckets have been placed in 80 businesses around Dunedin, with a street appeal on Friday, July 25.
Money raised in Dunedin will be used to fund safe houses, education programmes and other operations in the city.
