A Porirua woman has been charged after allegedly partially cutting off her husband's penis as he slept

The woman, who has interim name suppression, appeared in the Porirua District Court this week on a charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Our newsroom understands she allegedly started cutting off the man's penis while he was sleeping because she believed he had cheated on her.

Herald reporter Melissa Nightingale says the woman's been granted name suppression.

She says the woman's lawyer has requested mental health reports be done, with some of the suppression application understood to be focusing on harm to the couples children and to the complainant himself.