The Leader of the Opposition is calling for an overhaul of the country's sentencing laws.

Labour Leader Andrew Little is pushing for changes around rules for discharge without conviction, to stop violent offenders from qualifying for the sentence.

It follows recent high profile judicial decisions such as that of Wellington rugby player Losi Filipo, who was let off after assaulting four people.

Mr Little said he's not sure that was intended by Parliament when it passed sentencing laws.

"And it looks to me like there needs to be a clarification that has to come from parliament indicating when discharges without conviction are not to be used."

Mr Little said it's important judges be allowed to do their jobs, but he said the Sentencing Act is an Act of Parliament where the politicians give a signal about what they feel is acceptable and what is not.

"When you look at some of the results we're seeing just recently, with the discharge without conviction, we're seeing something that I think the community expects us to take action on, because it doesn't accord with our basic common sense."