Māori experiences of abuse in care Ngā wheako o te iwi Māori e pā ana ki te tūkinotanga nā te ringa taurima

Kia whakatōmuri te haere whakamua. I walk backwards into the future with my eyes fixed on the past.

Nau mai, tauti mai ki te whārangi ipurangi o te whakatewhatewha Māori.

The Māori investigation examined issues relevant to Māori experiences of abuse in State and faith-based care. It was established to share the voices of Māori survivors and their whānau, hapū and iwi, and the range of backgrounds and experiences of Māori survivors.

Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its principles, and tikanga Māori, were essential in informing the work of the Māori investigation.

The Māori investigation looked at:

the circumstances that led to Māori tamariki, rangatahi and vulnerable adults being taken into or placed into care
the appropriateness of where Māori survivors were placed, including whether they were placed with whānau, hapū and iwi, non-kin or residential care
the nature and extent of abuse of Māori survivors in care
the State’s obligations under te Tiriti o Waitangi
the structural, systemic and practical factors that caused or contributed to Māori survivors being abused in care
impacts of the abuse on Māori survivors and their whānau, hapū, iwi, and communities, including immediate, long term, and intergenerational impacts
Māori experiences of abuse in care between 1950 to 1999, which is the main period of our investigation
Māori experiences of abuse in care before 1950 and from
the current systems for preventing and responding to abuse against Māori, to investigate whether these are fit-for-purpose and recommend changes that need to be made to ensure that what occurred cannot happen again
the current frameworks and any new legislation, policy, rules, standards and practices that need to be developed to prevent and respond to the abuse of Māori in care
whether changes to legislation, policies, rules, standards, and practices – including oversight mechanisms – are required to protect Māori children, young people, and vulnerable adults in the future.

Māori public hearing

State Institutional Response hearing

Scope of investigation into Māori experiences of abuse in care

The Inquiry’s Māori investigation will examine issues that are particularly relevant to Māori experiences of abuse across all State and faith-based care settings included in the Terms of Reference and will work alongside the Inquiry’s other investigations.

Minute 19

This Minute sets out directions on the Royal Commission of Inquiry’s upcoming public hearing into Māori experiences of abuse in care. It relates only to this hearing. Practice Note 6 - Public Hearings sets out further directions on public hearings.