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Abuse in Care - Royal Commission of Inquiry

Abuse in Care - Royal Commission of Inquiry

This Royal Commission is an independent inquiry into abuse in state care and in the care of faith-based institutions in Aotearoa New Zealand.

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About the Royal Commission Mō te Kōmihana a te Karauna

The Royal Commission of Inquiry was established on 1 February 2018 to investigate what happened to children, young people and adults in State care and in the care of faith-based institutions in Aotearoa New Zealand between 1950 and 1999. 

On 25 June 2024 the Inquiry presented its Final Report – Whanaketia – to the Governor-General.  The report included recommendations on how Aotearoa New Zealand can better care for children, young people and adults in State and faith-based care.

Delivery of the report and recommendations marked the closure of the Inquiry. The Governor-General gave the final report to the Minister of Internal Affairs who tabled it in Parliament to make it public on Wednesday 24 July 2024.

The Inquiry investigated:  

  • Why people were taken into care
  • What abuse and neglect happened in care
  • The impacts of the abuse and neglect
  •  What factors caused the abuse and neglect in care to occur.
  • The Inquiry’s Terms of Reference directed the Inquiry to be underpinned by te Tiriti o Waitangi and its principles, and to focus on the experiences of Māori, Pacific People, Deaf people, disabled people and people who experience mental distress. 

Terms of Reference
Ngā Tikanga Whakahaere

The Inquiry’s Terms of Reference set out the purpose and scope of the Inquiry, including the timeframes for reporting. The Terms of Reference were set by the New Zealand Government and were updated over time.

Terms of Reference: Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State Care and in the Care of Faith-based Institutions Order 2018

Terms of Reference – Easy Read [DOCX, 8.4 MB]

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