Child, Youth and Family (CYF) is predicting that the number of reported child abuse cases will reach a record 125,000 this year.
That figure translates into nearly 2500 notifications a week. And CYF deputy chief executive Ray Smith says it's likely to grow even beyond that.
Figures released by CYF at a select committee presentation to Social Welfare Minister Paula Bennett on Wednesday show a 119% increase in abuse notifications between 2005 and 2009 - from 40,000 to 100,000.
Mr Smith also says that, on average, 60 babies are hospitalised every year with serious injuries; that up to 25 of them will have been shaken; and that a small number of the latter will die.
He told Checkpoint that it's not clear whether a higher domestic violence rate or a greater willingness to report abuse is behind the rise, but either way, he's glad people are speaking up.
Police more active too, says minister
Ms Bennett says it's also partly because police are more active in reporting suspected cases. About 47% of notifications come via police or family violence agencies, she says.
The minister says it reflects the new police practice of reporting to CYF the name of any child in a home where family violence has happened.
