An anti-poverty lobby group says a study it has done shows people in poor communities are more likely to be abused.
The study by the Child Poverty Action group analyses data on child abuse from Child Youth and Family.
It shows the highest recorded rates of child abuse were in Whakatane and the south Auckland suburb of Papakura.
Convener Mike O'Brien says although the statistics show poor communties have the highest rates, problems in other areas may be under-reported.
He says the data shows no direct correlation between beneficiaries and the mistreatment of children.
The report also shows there was no improvement in child abuse statistics between 2008 and 2012.
