The difficult subject of family violence will be the main topic of discussion at a public meeting called by Bay of Plenty MP Todd Muller tomorrow night.

The open discussion, which is being held at Papamoa Community Centre on Gravatt Road from 6pm, will feature a speech from Todd himself, as well as a range of individuals who specialise in dealing with violence in the home.

Bay of Plenty MP Todd Muller. Photo: File.

On the panel alongside Todd is Colin Gardner from It's not OK Papamoa, Family Violence Response Coordinator Heather Beddie, Police Family Violence Coordinator Detective Sergeant Jason Perry and Trish Ives from Papamoa Family Services.

'This is an opportunity for people to hear from myself as well as our panel on a very serious subject,” says Todd, 'but it's also an opportunity for people to make themselves heard in open discussion.

'This is something we take very seriously in government and it's important to give members of our community the chance to discuss their issues so that something can be done.

'It's a difficult subject, but it's no good simply reading statistics around family violence and shaking our heads – something has to be done and this is just one way to bring the subject into a public forum.

'The people on our panel are experts who work on the frontline out in the community. I also work closely with It's not OK Papamoa, so this is a problem we're all committed to tackling.”

The public meeting on family violence will take place at Papamoa Community Centre on Gravatt Road from 6pm on Tuesday, September 1.