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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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  • Pānui – 30 May 2024
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Pānui – 30 May 2024

Release date: 30 May 2024

Tēnā Koutou

With now less than a month to go before the Royal Commission of Inquiry for Abuse in Care concludes, we want to thank again everyone who has contributed. Your contribution has been important. Thank you.

It’s with great pleasure that we can share the news with you that the Royal Commission will reach its penultimate milestone today with the handover of recommendations to the Government.

Commissioners will provide recommendations to the Minister of Internal Affairs, Minister Brooke van Velden, today. If fully accepted, these recommendations will fundamentally change the care system in Aotearoa.

Chair Coral Shaw said “It’s a national disgrace and shame that hundreds of thousands of our children, young people and adults were abused while in the care of the State and faith-based institutions.”

A reminder that the recommendations won’t be made public yet. The Inquiry must first reach its final milestone, the handover of the comprehensive final report to the Governor-General by 26 June.

On this the Chair said “The whole country must pay attention when our final report is released and take responsibility to ensure that it never happens again.”

The Government will table the report in Parliament soon after the delivery to the Governor-General, this is when the report and recommendations will be released to the public. 

Solitary confinement of children

Earlier this year, the Royal Commission published an independent report by Dr Sharon Shalev about the use of solitary confinement: 

Uses and abuses of solitary confinement of children in State-run institutions in Aotearoa New Zealand

A leading researcher on solitary confinement, Dr Shalev says it's shameful there hasn’t been more national outrage that the practice continues – particularly as concerns were first raised about it 45 years ago.

Last weekend, The Sunday Star Times published an article called "Childhood solitary confinement is cruel, so why does the practice persist?" which was based on Dr Shalev’s report.

The article features Andrew Brown, a survivor who experienced solitary confinement when he entered Epuni Boys’ Home at the age of 9. The article has an accompanying video where Andrew talks about his experiences.  

Childhood solitary confinement is cruel, so why does the practice persist?

Samoa Language Week

This week is Vaiaso o le Gagana Samoa – Samoa Language Week, and the theme for this year is “Tautua i le alofa, manuia le lumana’I” which means “Serve in love for a blessed future'”.

Many of the survivors who shared their experiences with us did so in the spirit of service – in the hope of creating a better future for the next generation, and to help ensure that no other tamaraki, rangatahi or adults will experience abuse or neglect in State or faith-based care again.  

This Samoa Language week, Frances Tagaloa – a survivor of faith-based care, and part of the Royal Commission’s Survivor Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) – is sharing a message of thanks to all the Samoan and Pacific survivors who bravely shared their experiences with us. You can watch the message from Frances below.

Frances Tagaloa

View the message from Frances on Vimeo

You can also find out more about how we worked alongside the Pacific community during the Inquiry.

Working with the Pacific community

Survivor Experiences Service

Survivor Experiences Service logo

Once the Royal Commission ends, the journey of course continues for survivors to see through the change to the motu’s care system. We are aware that survivors may still want to share their experiences.

While the Royal Commission is no longer able to hear survivor experiences, people who have been abused in care can contact the Survivor Experiences Service (SES). They aim to provide a safe, supportive, and confidential place for survivors to share their experiences to support healing. The Service provides fully accessible short-term support to help people share their experiences – before, during and after sessions – with referrals to other support services where needed. The Service has been running since July 2023 and is to remain until a new, independent redress system is introduced.

You’ll find more information about SES, and their contact details, on the Survivor Experiences Service website.

Survivor Experiences Service

The Inquiry nears its end

As we mentioned in our last pānui the completion of the final report will also mean the Royal Commission will come to an end as well in less than a month. We will keep you updated here about this process, what happens next, what happens to the website and how you can keep being supported.

Please remember for now our contact team remains in place for you, there are details below.

Help and support services

Remember we are here to support you. Please get in touch with our Contact and Support Centre if you would like to discuss any questions or wellbeing support options.

  • Call us on 0800 222 727
  • Email us at contact@abuseincare.org.nz.
  • Call us from Australia on free phone 1800 875 745.
  • Write to us at PO Box 10071, Wellington 6140.

If you are worried about your or someone else's mental health, the best place to get help is your GP or local mental health provider. However, if you or someone else is in danger or endangering others, call police immediately on 111. Or if you need to talk to someone else:

Alcohol and Drug Helpline 0800 787 797 or online chat for people dealing with an alcohol or other drug problem; 10 am to 10 pm.
Anxiety phone line 0800 269 4389 (0800 ANXIETY).
Depression Helpline 0800 111 757 or free text 4202 (to talk to a trained counsellor about how you are feeling or to ask any questions).
Family Services 211 Helpline 0800 211 211 for help finding (and direct transfer to) community based health and social support services in your area.
HELP 0800 623 1700 preventing sexual abuse and supporting survivors 24/7.
Lifeline 0800 543 354 (0800 LIFELINE) or free text 4357 (HELP).
Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse Aotearoa New Zealand Support services for male survivors of sexual abuse. Refer to website for the support organisation nearest to you.
Need to talk? Free call or text 1737 any time for support from a trained counsellor.
OUTline NZ 0800 688 5463 (OUTLINE) provides confidential telephone support for sexuality or gender identity issues; 9 am to 9 pm weekdays, and 6 pm to 8 pm weekends).
Rape Crisis 0800 883 300 (for support after rape or sexual assault).
Safe to talk (Available 24/7) 0800 044 334, free txt 4334, email support@safetotalk.nz, live webchat on www.safetotalk.nz. Free and confidential information and support from trained counsellors for people affected by sexual harm in any way.
Samaritans 0800 726 666.
Shine 0508 744 633, free to call from any phone in NZ, and taking calls 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Call for confidential support, information, advice and referrals.
Skylight, 0800 299 100 for trauma, loss and grief; 9am–5pm weekdays.
SNAP - Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests Providing peer support for women and men wounded by religious and institutional authorities.
Suicide Crisis Helpline 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO).
Supporting Families in Mental Illness For families and whānau supporting a loved one who has a mental illness. Auckland 0800 732 825. 
Victim Support This free service provides emotional and practical support, information, financial assistance, referral to other support services and advocacy for the rights of victims.
Wellington HELP 0800 FOR HELP supports anyone and everyone who has been impacted by sexual violence. Call anytime.
Youthline 0800 376 633, free text 234 or email talk@youthline.co.nz or online chat.

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