A social work academic says it's time to talk about Pākehā male violence.

Marama Davidson is facing calls to apologise for saying 'white cis men' cause the most violence.

The Family and Sexual Violence Prevention Minister's clarified she meant men in general.

But Auckland University's Eileen Joy says our media focus on Maori and Pasifika violence.

She says the majority of cases seen by social workers involve Pākehā men.

She says Pākehā are using the bodies of brown men to hide behind, because it's easier to claim they aren't violent.