The Ministry of Social Development has resolved about a third of more than 1100 cases of people alleging historic abuse, including physical and sexual assaults by caregivers and staff members while in state care.
Ministry of Social Development deputy chief executive David Shanks said 462 historic claims were filed in the High Court at Wellington and another 677 had been made directly to the ministry's historic claims team, as at February 28.
The allegations came from people living in social welfare, health, education and church-run homes, and foster care and family homes.
The harm included physical and sexual assaults by caregivers, staff members, other residents or children and included practice failures by social workers, Mr Shanks said.
The claims came from people who had been in state care in the past 70 years, although most cases were between the 1960s and the 1980s.
The figures released under the Official Information Act revealed 392 claims had been investigated and resolved.
Resolutions included settlement payments, education, tattoo removal, counselling, therapy and written apologies.
Payments had been made in 244 of the resolved claims to recognise the harm the person had come to while in care, he said.
The claimant had also received or been offered a formal written apology from the ministry chief executive, he said.
Those who had been offered an apology and a financial payment were related to events in 16 residences that were run by the ministry's predecessors, all of which were now closed.
There were 747 claims yet to be resolved, he said.
''In 2004, it became apparent that a potentially large number of civil claims brought by people alleging historic abuse and maltreatment while in state care were being filed in the High Court.''
The ministry established the impartial historic claims team in 2006-07 and focused on helping find a resolution for people who had been harmed while in care, he said.
University of Otago faculty of law dean Prof Mark Henaghan said the compensation for those harmed while in care should be a high priority for the ministry.
''We've buried abuse for too long in this country.''
The research and longitudinal studies revealed ongoing consequences for people who had been abused, particularly in children, the helpless and the vulnerable.
''While it's nice to have a conversation and an apology, it doesn't turn their fortunes around totally, but at least it's a start in the right direction and hopefully, things are put in place so children will not be abused again.''
