Kia ora koutou,

There’s a fitting whakataukī (proverb) for this, the final pānui. The whakataukī and this pānui are centred on the communities and collective voices that formed around this Inquiry.

Ki te kōtahi te kākāhō kā whati ki te kāpuia e kore e whati.

When we stand alone, we are vulnerable, but together we are unbreakable.

Many of you have built connections and new ones are forming.

Collectively, Aotearoa New Zealand now knows just how many children, young people and adults went into care from 1950-1999, what happened to you in care, and the long-lasting impacts you and your whānau and support networks suffered.

Importantly, Aotearoa New Zealand has been told – by you, through the Inquiry’s final report – about what you need to thrive.

The final report was named by survivors, and it is fitting for this part of the journey: Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light.

The Inquiry’s Chair, Judge Coral Shaw, said when Whanaketia was released, “I invite you, members of the public, who have been touched and moved and angered by what has happened – for you to be champions for the future as well. Champions for change.”

While it is time to say e noho rā, the country can never forget your strength, your bravery, your patience and your perseverance.

Whanaketia was six years in the making, following decades of your fight to be heard. It’s hoped you can see yourself reflected in it.

With care, aroha and healing,

Benesia Smith, MNZM
Executive Director

The Inquiry is now closed

The Inquiry ended on 25 June 2024, when Whanaketia was handed to the Governor-General by Commissioner Erueti.

The contact centre is now closed and any outstanding queries have been transferred to the Department of Internal Affairs to respond to. Any @abuseincare email addresses are now invalid and no longer exist.

A small team has wound down the Inquiry. It has been focusing its attention on tasks like making website content easier to navigate, closing down the Inquiry’s computer systems and tidying up evidence and information systems for the Department of Internal Affairs.

Obtaining the kōrero you shared with the Inquiry

In many cases, you shared your care experience with the Inquiry through a private session, witness statement and/or a written account. We securely kept this information as written and audio files; to read, listen to and analyse so all your voices are reflected in the final report.

Usually, information like this would be digitally locked away on our closure – however, we want to ensure easy access for you to your own documents.

You can still request these things, and they will be sent to you as a document and/or a recording.

This process will be administered by the Department of Internal Affairs.

Please email care.survivorrequest@dia.govt.nz to request your private session, witness statement or written account. You can also request copies of other evidence or documents that you shared with the Inquiry.

Minute 30 – access to Inquiry records

On 25 June 2024, the Inquiry published its final minute which sets out what information and evidence held by the Inquiry (and now the Department of Internal Affairs) can be accessed.

You can access a copy of the final minute – called Minute 30 here: Go to Minute 30 in the Document library

If you have a request for material, please send your request to oia@dia.govt.nz and clearly highlight in the subject line that it relates to the Abuse in Care Royal Commission’s records.

Accessing Whanaketia

Whanaketia is best accessed on the Inquiry’s website. The website remains online as an enduring record.

• www.abuseincare.org.nz - homepage
• Whanaketia in brief – a quick way to understand what’s in the report

Showcasing independent research, independent submissions and engagements

We’ve created pages on our website to showcase independent research reports, independent submissions and engagement notes. The content provides rich insights important to this kaupapa and to the findings within Whanaketia. You’ll see the independent reports, submissions and engagements quoted or sourced within Whanaketia.

• Follow this link for engagements.
• Follow this link for independent research reports and independent submissions.

We want to highlight four recent uploads to the website:

• As a Kid, I Always Knew Who I Was: Voices of Takatāpui, Rainbow and MVPFAFF+ survivors - an independent research report from survivor and senior researcher Paora Moyle of Te Whāriki Manawāhine Research.
• Korowai aroha – Position Statement and Key Asks – an independent submission from the rōpū Kaitiaki mō ngā teina e haere ake nei.  The rōpū is made up of tāngata whenua, tauiwi, tāngata whaikaha, migrants, gender diverse, rainbow rangatahi and parents ranging in age from 17-30 years old.  
• Arewa Ake te Kaupapa – an independent submission from gang whānau, who presented their experiences of care and its impacts to Commissioners and to the Inquiry. They were supported by Professor Tracey McIntosh, MNZM.  
• Quantitative Analysis of Abuse in Care – a report from data analytics specialists DOT Loves Data which produced a quantitative analysis of the data collected from the accounts of the 2,329 survivors who registered with the Inquiry.  

Sharing your experience now the Inquiry has closed

Survivors showed immense courage by speaking to the Royal Commission of Inquiry.

As a way for survivors to continue sharing their experiences, now the Inquiry is closed, the government established the Survivor Experiences Service.

Once an experience is shared, the Survivor Experiences Service can also offer other services such as wellbeing support, transcriptions, as well as assist in gaining access to personal care records. 

Survivors and whānau can contact the Survivor Experiences Service to organise a time and place to share their experiences:

• call 0800 456 090
• text 8328
• email contact@survivorexperiences.govt.nz

 You’ll find more information about the Survivor Experiences Service on their website at https://survivorexperiences.govt.nz/