Lucy Lawless, television's warrior princess Xena, has offered her skills to help fight a real life battle against child abuse.

Last night, Ms Lawless said the fatal bashing of three-year-old Tangaroa Matiu in January prompted her to call Children's Commissioner Roger McClay yesterday and offer to help.

"Tangaroa was beaten to death with a piece of fence paling for pooing his pants. What can you say about that?" she said.

The life sentence handed out this week to Tangaroa's stepfather, Genesis James Mahanga, for the murder followed a spate of high-profile cases of child abuse and toddler bashings. Mr McClay said his office was being inundated with calls, including some from several other famous New Zealanders, offering help and encouragement as he spoke out about abuse.

Ms Lawless, who is the mother of 12-year-old Daisy and 10-month-old Julian, said she had no idea how her fame could help but felt she had to do something. "I am not an expert on the issue, but I am a new mum and I know how much love and attention needs to go into one baby. It breaks my heart to see how some of these kids are treated.

"There is no good being righteously indignant about it if you are not going to get off your backside and try and make some sort of change. If there is something I can do, I want to be a part of it."

She believed that a move away from extended families had left young people without the skills and the money to bring up their children well.

"Because we don't live very integrated lives with our grandparents and our old aunties these days, those lessons - particularly as it pertains to child-rearing - that come from an older and gentler person, that kind of wisdom is not being handed down," Ms Lawless said. "I feel it is up to all of us to raise healthy children with a good self-esteem."

Mr McClay said he had yet to work out how a star such as Ms Lawless could help his office advocate for children, but the fact that she was so well-liked by adults and children everywhere could have a big impact.

"I have never experienced anything like what my office is seeing," he said. "I am just staggered by people's reaction to what's been going on. It's quite overwhelming, really."

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