The Children's Commissioner says he sometimes feels weighed down by the enormity of the child abuse issue in New Zealand.

Judge Andrew Becroft has been reappointed in his role for two more years, and he has been given further oversight.

Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni says Becroft has been an exemplary advocate for children and young people since 2016.

She says his continued role ensures consistent leadership while independent oversight of Oranga Tamariki is being strengthened.

A new independent children’s monitor is being established, which will eventually come under the Office of the Children’s Commissioner. Judge Becroft's role will expand to monitoring people in Oranga Tamariki up to the age of 25.

In the last decade, eight to 10 children have died each year as a result of abuse. Becroft told Mike Yardley it's absolutely disgraceful.

"Children are a gift, they are a treasure. When they are born, they need adults to look after them and prioritise their interests. The degree of gratuitous violence would leave most of us speechless."

The most recent such crime occurred yesterday, when a 10-month-old baby from Hokitika died as a result of injuries. A 30-year-old man has been charged with his murder.

Despite the continued deaths, Becroft says early intervention services are much better than they were.

"The stats aren't showing the sort of decrease that we would want to see but you can bet your bottom that people are trying as hard as they possibly can to change things."

He says Oranga Tamariki now has a huge prevention commitment, rather than being a rescue service at the bottom of the cliff.

"That's where I think we start. We say that children are born and their parents are struggling and they need the absolute best help and support we can give them."