Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers says some of the worst child-abuse cases - such as the death of the Kahui twins - could have been prevented if cultural assessments had been done better.
Chief executive Lucy Sandford-Reed is supporting findings of a review in to the caseload of social workers, which found they did not have enough time to help children.
Ms Sandford-Reed said professionals were having to reprioritise their work because of a shift by the sector focusing on delivering on quantity and not quality.
She said cases such as the Kahui twins, Nia Glassie and Delcelia Witika could have been prevented, if the system had allowed professionals time to undertake that culturally appropriate work.
