Rates of violence against children are still "unacceptably high" and show no sign of dropping in the next three years, says Children's Commissioner John Angus.
In his first statement of intent since being appointed in May, Mr Angus said violence was "endemic in too many of the families, schools and other settings in which children live".
It was unlikely that levels of violence and neglect would "drop dramatically" over the next three years, as the recession added to family pressures.
"Indeed, it may be that more instances of violence come to notice and that household overcrowding and economic hardship lead to increased levels of neglect," his statement said.
"There is some evidence that economic hardship increases the stresses on families that can lead some families to neglect their children's emotional and physical needs," he said.
Libby Robins, director of Christchurch-based Family Help Trust, said financial stress made parental violence against children more likely.
"We have watched with significant horror at how more complex our families have become," she told The Press.
"The families that we work with now are in much more serious trouble than they were 20 years ago.
"There are more mental health problems, there is a lot more drug-taking and there is more violence in families."
Ms Robins said research showed child maltreatment cost $2 billion each year in "mopping up the mess".
Chief Families Commissioner Jan Pryor said stress, poverty and disparity were all factors in family violence.
"If the economic recession continues, it could well impact on vulnerable families," she said.
