We're being asked whether victims who kill their abusers need better provisions under the law.

The Law Commission's calling for public feedback on whether the self defence law should include a partial defence, reducing murder charges to manslaughter, in domestic abuse cases.

Lead Commissioner, Dr Wayne Mapp, said New Zealand's out of step with countries like Australia and Canada, which recognise circumstances of extreme ongoing abuse that lead to homicide.

"The victim essentially gets to a point where they feel that they have absolutely no other choice - they have to do this, to save themselves and or their children. Its sort of built up - and we don't think the law properly recognise those sorts of circumstances."

Dr Mapp said there have been 23 cases of victims killing abusers in the last 15 years.

He said the current self defence law applies to imminent threat, and doesn't adequately recognise the nature of ongoing physical, sexual, and psychological abuse.

Public feedback is open until the 18th of December.