New Zealand Police, Cook Islands Police and New Zealand rugby are teaming up to promote the Break the Silence End the Violence message.

A group of 10 representatives from different New Zealand rugby clubs leave for Rarotonga on Thursday for a week-long tour visiting schools and community groups with the message that "violence is not OK".

The group consists of players and coaches who have agreed to support NZAid's Pacific Prevention of Domestic Violence Programme (PPDVP).

Head of the PPDVP in New Zealand, Cam Ronald, said one of the best ways of preventing violence was for young men and women to see role models promoting the message that violence is not OK.

The PPDVP began working with NZ rugby four years ago. Since then more than 40 players have visited countries in the Pacific as part of the programme.

"It is very positive that so many of our young sportsmen, many of them with connections to the Pacific want to take a stand against violence," Mr Ronald said.

Hurricanes Professional Development Manager, Steve Symonds says that each year he has to turn players away who want to be part of programme.

"The boys are excited to be part of the PPDVP project and the work that both the New Zealand and Cook Islands' Police do to prevent violence in the Pacific.

The programme is in its fourth year with visits to Samoa, Tonga and now the Cook Islands by players who are prepared to extend their role-model status beyond New Zealand.

Mr Ronald said the Cook Islands Police was one of the first Pacific countries to open a dedicated Domestic Violence Unit (DVU) in 2006 and had continued to build its capability to deal with domestic violence since then.

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Police and rugby take message to islands