New Zealand's disadvantaged and marginalised groups are the most impacted by abuse in care.

The Royal Commission of Inquiry into State and Faith-based Care's interim report has been released by the Government.

It shows survivors are often children, disabled, female, or of Maori or Pacific ethnicity.

The Inquiry says children often left care in a worse condition than they'd arrived.

It's found when survivors made claims, the Crown was overly focused on the financial implications to the State, rather than satisfactory compensation.

It's now estimated 655,000 people were in care between 1950 and 2019, and up to 253,000 could have been abused.

Public Service Minister Chris Hipkins says it's one of the most sobering reports he's laid eyes on as a minister.

"It is one of the ones that has taken some time to read, and I haven't finished reading yet, as its one of the ones that's difficult to read cover-to-cover without having to stop."

Hipkins says the Government's exploring the redress processes, including looking at how time limits on civil claims against the State can be applied to future historic claims.

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