Survivors of abuse in care today received a formal apology from the Government at an event in Parliament that was livestreamed across New Zealand.
The national apology was given by the Prime Minister, Rt Hon Christopher Luxon, followed by a statement from the Leader of the Opposition, Rt Hon Chris Hipkins. The national apology followed an earlier event at Parliament where the chief executives of several agencies also made apologies and the voices of survivors were heard.
The recording of the livestream of the event is available at: Vimeo(external link) and the full text of the national apology is available at: Prime Minister apologises for abuse in care(external link)
The national apology was streamed to three concurrent events in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch, as well as a survivor-led event at Pipitea Marae in Wellington.
The Final Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State Care and in the Care of Faith-based Institutions, Whanaketia – Through pain and trauma, from darkness to light(external link), was publicly released in July 2024.
The Royal Commission heard nearly 3,000 survivor accounts of abuse and neglect and its report and recommendations are the result of five years of investigations, research, private sessions, and public hearings.
The Secretary for Justice, Andrew Kibblewhite, says the Ministry of Justice is one of the government agencies contributing to the Crown response to the Royal Commission’s recommendations.
“I attended the concurrent event held in Wellington and heard survivors’ harrowing stories of abuse and neglect.
“On behalf of the Ministry, I acknowledge the Prime Minister’s apology on behalf of the Government for the abuse that survivors experienced in the care of the state.
“The national apology is an important step in the process of healing, but it is just one of many steps that will be needed. We are working with the Crown Response Unit and other agencies to develop a meaningful response to the Royal Commission’s recommendations in its interim and final reports. This includes progressing several legislative amendments within the next few months.”
For people wanting to access wellbeing support prior to and after the apology event, a helpline, Safe to Talk, is available 24/7:
Royal Commission of inquiry into abuse in care and faith-based institutions(external link)
The Crown response to the Abuse in Care Inquiry(external link)
Prime Minister’s Speech 24 July 2024
PM speech to Parliament – Royal Commission of Inquiry’s Report into Abuse in Care(external link)
Joint Press Release Prime Minister/Minister Stanford: Acknowledgement of torture at Lake Alice
Government acknowledges torture at Lake Alice(external link)
Joint Press Release Prime Minister/Minister Stanford Acknowledgement of survivors
Government acknowledges courageous abuse survivors(external link)
Lead Coordination Minister, Hon Erica Stanford:
Government’s Response to the Royal Commission’s Report into Historical Abuse in State Care and in the Care of Faith-based Institutions(external link)
Ministry of Justice
Crown response to the Abuse in Care Inquiry
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