Witness summaries
From 13-17 June, survivors who experienced abuse and neglect in foster care will share their experiences and evidence at a public hearing.
Hemi McCallum of Ngāi Tahu and Ngāpuhi descent, was in State care in the 1960s-1970s. Hemi passed away in March 2022. Hemi’s experience of multiple abuse and placements had severe impacts on his life. During his time in foster care, Hemi suffered physical and emotional abuse, and neglect. He was also forced to undertake extreme physical labour at a very young age. Hemi’s sister and niece will speak about his time in State care from age 2 until he was discharged at age 15, and his key recommendations for changes to improve the foster care system.
Mr EH is a Pākehā male who will speak about the sexual and physical abuse and neglect he suffered while in foster care, and the life-long impacts of the abuse. Mr EH will discuss the extensive physical labour and farm work he was forced to undertake from a young age as part of his foster care placements and his reflections on leaving care at the age of 19.
Ms Elison Mae is of Ngāti Kahungungu ki Wairarapa and Rangitāne descent. Elison suffered emotional, physical, sexual and psychological abuse during the 17 years that she was in State care. Elison later worked as a solicitor for Child, Youth and Family until 2019. Elison shares her experience of the foster care system alongside her current concerns and recommendations for the future.
Ms Mae will also be one of our panel members in the survivor-led roundtable to discuss the changes that are needed to support children in State care. The outcomes of these discussions will inform the Commission’s recommendations in the Social Welfare report.
Dr Sarah Calvert is a renowned Family Court clinical psychologist who specialises in work with children and adolescents. Dr Calvert is experienced in areas of family conflict, sexual assault, treatment of victims and dynamics of sexual and physical assault on children and adults.
Dr Sarah Calvert (Continued from Monday)
Mr EC is of Ngāti Maniapoto and Ngāti Kurī descent. He suffered from neglect, excessive labour, psychological and physical abuse from his foster carers. Mr EC was separated from his siblings and moved to multiple foster placements and borstal before spending time in prison. Mr EC speaks about his experiences and the impacts that foster care has had on his life and family relationships.
Kath Coster is the third generation of her family to have been in State care. She shares experiences of her early family life and multiple foster and family home placements. Ms Coster discusses the impacts that foster care has had on her life including her health and relationships and the significant effect it has had on her cultural identity. Ms Coster shares a number of recommendations for change.
Ms Coster will also be one of our panel members in the survivor-led roundtable to discuss the changes that are needed to support children in State care. The outcomes of these discussions will inform the Commission’s recommendations in the Social Welfare report.
Dr Tania Cargo is a senior Māori clinical psychologist and senior lecturer in psychological medicine. Dr Cargo is also a national trainer for Parent-Child Interaction therapy (PCIT) in Aotearoa New Zealand and is a member of the International Board of PCIT. She has been working in child and adolescent mental health for 18 years and has been specialising in infant mental health for 12 years.
Dr Alayne Mikahere-Hall is of Ngāti Whātua, Te Rarawa, Tainui and Pākehā decent. Dr Mikahere-Hall is a registered psychotherapist, a member of the New Zealand Association of Psychotherapist (NZAP) and a founding member of Waka Oranga – National Collective of Māori Psychotherapy Practitioners (NCMPP). Dr Mikahere-Hall has worked across a wide range of community services for over 20 years including Māori Mental Health Child and Adolescent Services and private practice. She also undertakes research and works with whānau, adults, children and adolescents with a number of issues including whānau violence, complex trauma and intergenerational trauma.
Ms ED is a Pākehā woman from the South Island. She will share her experience of suffering physical, sexual and psychological abuse from both a family member and a foster parent throughout her time in foster care, where she had over ten different placements. Ms ED will also share the reactions she experienced when she attempted to report a foster carer’s abuse, and some of her recommendations for improving the foster care system.
Stephen Shaw is a Pākehā survivor who entered care at 16 months old. Stephen experienced sexual, physical, and psychological abuse in multiple foster care placements. Stephen will share his journey through State care, and the State’s failings that saw him placed back into the care of his abusive father. Stephen will share the impacts of abuse on both his physical and mental health and looking to the future will share his recommendations to prevent abuse in care.
Associate Professor Emily Keddell is an associate professor at the University of Otago. Her research focusses on child welfare inequalities, child protection decision-making, the politics of child protection and the use of algorithmic decision tools in child protection.
Dr Ian Hyslop is a senior lecturer at the University of Auckland. His professional interests are tied to a concern with the relationship between social work and social justice, locally and globally. Dr Hyslop has worked as a social worker, supervisor, and practice manager in statutory child protection practice in Auckland. His recent book looks at the critical history of the relationship between child protection and liberal capitalism with an emphasis on the tensions with indigenous models of family life.
Alex Kaspin is a non-binary survivor who was taken into State care as a young child and experienced more than 20 placements before being discharged from care at the age of 17. Alex will share their experiences of sexual, psychological and physical abuse while in foster care and the impacts that this abuse has had on them. Within this, Alex will talk about their continued experience with Oranga Tamariki after leaving care and what drove them to choose an open adoption for their own two tamariki.
Mrs EJ was taken into State care in 1990s and will give evidence of her experience in a foster home she used to call the ‘House of Horrors’. Her foster caregivers were held in high regard in the community, but behind closed doors Mrs EJ was sexually abused by her foster father and his son. Mrs EJ was exploited as a free laborer on the family farm and suffered both physical and emotional abuse. Mrs EJ will share her attempts as a child to alert social workers and police to her abuse, highlighting a lack of advocacy and support for children and their voices in the care system.
Ms EM will give evidence of her time in foster care, including the abuse and neglect she suffered at several placements. At one home, Ms EM suffered sexual abuse and made complaints to her social worker about it, but this was not responded to adequately. The perpetrator would later be convicted of sexual offences against minors. Ms EM will also share her experiences with the redress process, her interactions with government departments, and recommendations to improve the future care system.
Ms EL is a Pākehā survivor who will give evidence on her experience in foster care, focusing on the sexual abuse she suffered in two foster placements. After leaving care, Ms EL notified the Department of Social Welfare of the abuse in both foster homes. One of these perpetrators was convicted of sexual offences against minors and Ms EL will speak to her experience as a witness at that trial. She will also provide details on her time in Kingslea Residential School, and the impacts of the abuse she experienced in care.
Ms EF and her brother went into State care in the 1960’s at age 9 following her father’s conviction for sexual abuse of a child. Through her time in care, Ms EF was largely separated from her brother, except during repeated visits with their father, which were permitted by the Department of Social Welfare despite its knowledge of their father’s convictions. Ms EF’s father would sexually abuse her during these visits. Ms EF lived in multiple foster homes and was sexually abused by her foster father in the last home. Ms EF talks about the separation from her brother, disorientation from multiple placements, and shutting down due to what was happening as lasting impacts of her experience. As an adult, having had a career involved with pastoral care of school children, she speaks about the need for wrap around and trauma informed support for children in care.
Erica Dobson is of Cook Island and Ngāti Kahungunu descent. Erica is a survivor of State care and will share her experiences in foster care including how she was let down by the State’s policies and decisions regarding the placement of children. Erica will provide further background information about her foster brother who experienced the same abusive placements.
Emily Gao is the widow of Daryl Brougham, a survivor of State care who passed away in 2018. Ms Gao will say a few words on her late husband’s behalf from his book, titled “Through the Eyes of a Foster Child: My Childhood in Over 30 New Zealand Homes”.
Survivor-led panel (with other expert participation)
Dr Tania Cargo, Facilitator is a senior Māori clinical psychologist and senior lecturer in psychological medicine. Dr Cargo is also a national trainer for Parent-Child Interaction therapy (PCIT) in Aotearoa New Zealand and is a member of the International Board of PCIT. She has been working in child and adolescent mental health for 18 years and has been specialising in infant mental health for 12 years.
Neta Kerepeti is of Te Rarawa, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Wai, and Ngāti Mutunga descent. Ms Kerepeti has previously provided evidence at the Abuse in children’s State residential care public hearing. Ms Kerepeti will be one of our panel members discussing the changes that are needed to support children in State care. The outcomes of these discussions will inform the Commission’s recommendations in the Social Welfare report.
Dallas Pickering has 20 years of professional experience in the field of social work. She has valuable insights into contemporary issues within the State care system. She is also a survivor who was abused first by the family who adopted her, and then in the foster care system when removed from that family. Ms Pickering has previously given evidence at the Contextual Hearing and will be one of our panel members in the survivor-led roundtable to discuss the changes that are needed to support children in State care. The outcomes of these discussions will inform the Commission’s recommendations in the Social Welfare report.
Kath Coster is the third generation of her family to have been in State care. She shares her experiences of her early family life and multiple foster and family home placements. Ms Coster discusses the impacts that foster care has had on her life including her health and relationships and the significant effect it has had on her cultural identity. Ms Coster shares her recommendations for change.
Dr Sarah Calvert is a renowned Family Court clinical psychologist who specialises in work with children and adolescents. Dr Calvert is experienced in areas of family conflict, sexual assault, treatment of victims and dynamics of sexual and physical assault on children and adults.
Dr Ian Hyslop is a senior lecturer at the University of Auckland. His professional interests are tied to a concern with the relationship between social work and social justice, locally and globally. Dr Hyslop has worked as a social worker, supervisor, and practice manager in statutory child protection practice in Auckland. His recent book looks at the critical history of the relationship between child protection and liberal capitalism with an emphasis on the tensions with indigenous models of family life.
Afternoon Panel 1
Dr Ian Hyslop, Facilitator is a senior lecturer at the University of Auckland. His professional interests are tied to a concern with the relationship between social work and social justice, locally and globally. Dr Hyslop has worked as a social worker, supervisor, and practice manager in statutory child protection practice in Auckland. His recent book looks at the critical history of the relationship between child protection and liberal capitalism with an emphasis on the tensions with indigenous models of family life.
Elison Mae is of Ngāti Kahungungu ki Wairarapa and Rangitāne descent. She suffered emotional, physical, sexual and psychological abuse during the 17 years that she was State care. Ms Mae later worked as a solicitor for Child, Youth and Family until 2019. Ms Mae shares her experience of the foster care system alongside her current concerns and recommendations for the future.
Frederick Williams is of Samoan descent. Mr Williams was placed in Ōwairaka and Kohitere after running away from home at the age of 12 because of abuse he was experiencing at home. He has previously shared his experience of the abuse he suffered at Tulou - Our Pacific Voices: Tatala e Pulonga public hearing. Mr Williams was also placed in a family home between multiple placements and is one of our panel members in the survivor-led roundtable to share his views on recommendations for change.
Lady Tureiti Moxon is of Ngāti Pāhauwera, Ngāti Kahungunu and Kāi Tahu descent. Lady Moxon has worked as a lawyer on Treaty of Waitangi claims and settlements and is a Chartered Fellow with the Institute of Directors. She is the managing director of Te Kōhao Health, a health, education, social and justice service provider servicing the wider Waikato region, and is Chair of the National Urban Māori Authority.
Dr Moana Eruera is a registered social worker with a PhD in indigenous studies and over thirty years of experience working in communities. Dr Eruera has more than 15 years’ experience in State sector strategic and operational leadership roles both as a consultant and as a senior government staff member. She can also provide a ‘grass roots insight’ from her experiences as a social worker.
Dr Valerie McGinn is a neuropsychologist and clinical director of the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Centre Aotearoa and is recognised as New Zealand’s leading expert in FASD. She has provided over 100 FASD assessments to New Zealand courts resulting in FASD now being widely recognised and accommodated within the legal system. Dr McGinn is a founding and board member of the FASD Care Action Network, New Zealand’s organisation to support and advocate for people with FASD and their families and caregivers.
Afternoon Panel 2
Dr Ian Hyslop, Facilitator is a senior lecturer at the University of Auckland. His professional interests are tied to a concern with the relationship between social work and social justice, locally and globally. Dr Hyslop has worked as a social worker, supervisor, and practice manager in statutory child protection practice in Auckland. His recent book looks at the critical history of the relationship between child protection and liberal capitalism with an emphasis on the tensions with indigenous models of family life.
Neta Kerepeti is of Te Rarawa, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Wai, and Ngāti Mutunga descent. Ms Kerepeti has previously provided evidence of her experiences at the Abuse in children’s State residential care public hearing. Ms Kerepeti will be one of our panel members discussing the changes that are needed to support children in State care. The outcomes of these discussions will inform the Commission’s recommendations in the Social Welfare report.
Liua Vatuvei is of Tongan and Māori descent. Mr Vatuvei is a survivor aged in his 20’s who brings contemporary experience of being in the care system. Mr Vatuvei’s placements as a child were arranged through an organisation that provided support for disabled people. Mr Vatuvei experienced multiple placements and forms of abuse, including physical abuse and neglect. Once in foster care, he was separated from whānau and as a result feels disconnected from his culture. Mr Vatuvei will join our afternoon panel to discuss the changes that are needed to support children in State care. The outcomes of these discussions will inform the Commission’s recommendations in the Social Welfare report.
Denis Smith is a former social worker for the Department of Social Welfare. He began his career with the Department in 1969 at 23 and left in 1993, having also spent time working at IHC, Barnados and the New Zealand Foster Care Federation in-between. He took on various roles in the Department, including working as a senior social worker in the Adoption and Fostering Team. Mr Smith has also worked with victims and/or offenders of abuse by providing them counselling services in the Family Court, Community Corrections and the Ministry of Social Development. Since 1989, he has written and presented papers on male adolescent sexual abuse to men. Mr Smith will be one of our panel members discussing what recommendations to State care could look like. The outcomes of these discussions will inform the Commission’s recommendations in the Social Welfare report.
Dr Alayne Mikahere-Hall is of Ngāti Whātua, Te Rarawa, Tainui and Pākehā decent. Dr Mikahere-Hall is a registered psychotherapist, a member of the New Zealand Association of Psychotherapist (NZAP) and a founding member of Waka Oranga – National Collective of Māori Psychotherapy Practitioners (NCMPP). Dr Mikahere-Hall has worked across a wide range of community services over the past 20 years including Māori Mental Health Child and Adolescent Services and private practice. She also undertakes research and works with whānau, adults, children and adolescents with a number of issues including whānau violence, complex trauma and intergenerational trauma.
Dr Teuila Percival is a director for Moana Research. Previously, she was the Head of Pacific Health Section at the School of Population Health, University of Auckland. Dr Percival has extensive research expertise in Pacific health research, in addition to her child health expertise which is often used in New Zealand and in regions in the Pacific and Australasia. Her portfolio includes being the principal investigator on the Pacific Child Health Indicators project in the Pacific and OPIC 2, the family-based intervention for Pacific children project.
Dr Tania Cargo is a senior Māori clinical psychologist and senior lecturer in psychological medicine. Dr Cargo is also a national trainer for Parent-Child Interaction therapy (PCIT) in Aotearoa New Zealand and is a member of the International Board of PCIT. She has been working in child and adolescent mental health for 18 years and has been specialising in infant mental health for 12 years.