A new study into child abuse in New Zealand raises questions as to whether our child welfare systems are resourced and organised appropriately.
It found a quarter of Kiwi kids have been reported to child protection services.
The report is one of the most comprehensive studies ever undertaken in this country.
The AUT study involves more than 55,443 children born in 1998 - so they're in their late teens now.
It found 23.5 percent of Kiwi children have at some time been referred to child protection services.
Even more disturbing, it also shows 9.7 percent were a victim of emotional, physical or sexual abuse or neglect, while 3.1 percent were put into foster care.
It's something the Children's Commissioner Andrew Beacroft describes as profoundly concerning.
"In every sense [it's] unacceptable, and in all senses an area where huge change is required," he said.
"We need to be crystal clear that abuse and neglect have no part in any child's life in New Zealand."
The report also raises questions as to whether our child welfare systems are resourced and organised properly.
The Ministry for Children says any harm is unacceptable. It was set up to bring about system-wide change designed to drop those numbers dramatically.
Newshub.
