This survey of the 1998 New Zealand birth cohort of 56,904 children through 2016 recorded cumulative childhood prevalence of reports to child protective services (CPS), substantiated maltreatment (by subtype) and out-of-home placements. The children were followed from birth to age 18 years. Child maltreatment and child protection involvement differed markedly by ethnic group; compared with other children, Māori and Pacific Islander children were much more likely to be reported to CPS, to be substantiated as victims, and experience an out-of-home placement. Across all levels of CPS interactions, rates of Māori involvement were more than 2-fold higher than those of Pacific Islander children and more than 3-fold those of European children.
