More than 100 children in state care were victims of abuse in the first three months of this year.
The third Oranga Tamariki report for the safety of children in care between January and March has been released, finding 103 children were harmed in the period.
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It's an increase from the previous period - October to December 2018 - where 97 children and young people in care were harmed.
The harm is caused by a range of people, in a number of settings. Oranga Tamariki deputy chief executive Voices of Children Hoani Lambert said the report highlights different children experience different types of harm.
Sixteen children had findings of neglect, 33 of emotional harm, 54 of physical harm, and 19 of sexual harm.
Lambert said its goal is to understand the level and nature of the harm and to reduce it.
"We're releasing this information because we want to be open, transparent and learn from it.
"The conversations surrounding this are not easy ones to have, but the more people who engage in issues about child safety and wellbeing, the more likely it is that change will happen."
The Children's Commissioner says he remains "deeply concerned" and the figures are "utterly unacceptable".
Andrew Becroft told Newshub the figures shine a light on a "long and chronic" issue.
"After three reports now the question has got to be: 'What's being done?'
"I hope by the next quarter we start to see some significant drops, because we can't continue as we're going at the moment."
Lambert told Newshub Oranga Tamariki needed to consider how it can provide support, to ensure child placements are successful.
"The goal will be for us to make the necessary investments - particularly in intensive intervention.
"The other aim would be that, over time, we make sure that we can improve training and support - particularly for our staff and caregivers."
Newshub.
