A Balclutha man who pushed his wife and threatened her with a knife has been discharged without conviction, after the judge heard he was at risk of deportation.

Warren Agajona (42), originally from the Philippines, appeared in the Dunedin District Court on charges of male assaults female and threatening behaviour.

He pleaded guilty to both charges.

Judge John MacDonald said he pushed her in the face, and grabbed her by the hair before taking a knife from the kitchen and making "some kind of threat", after an argument on August 7.

Defence counsel Anne Stevens said while a discharge without conviction was unusual for family violence charges, his actions were "at the lower end".

"He's a very hard-working man of good character."

There was a "very high likelihood" of deportation if he was convicted, which would be out of all proportion to the gravity of the offending, she said.

Judge MacDonald agreed Agajona having to return to the Philippines was "not a particularly palatable option".

He ordered Agajona to pay $750 emotional harm reparation, and discharged him without conviction.