Domestic violence is taken very seriously by the courts in New Zealand. It typically involves charges related to an immediate family member and can include assault, wilful damage, threatening behaviour, and breaches of a protection order.

When it comes to domestic violence cases in New Zealand, the court's approach can be somewhat more lenient than in other cases when considering a discharge without conviction. This is because the court takes into account the impact a conviction may have on your family moving forward, such as employment issues and how these might affect your partner and children.