The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry State Residential homes public hearing resumes today in Auckland.

Commissioners will hear from two witnesses. Witness evidence summaries are outlined below.

The hearing is being live-streamed here.

The hearing is open to media. Only opening and closing statements can be filmed but witness footage is available.

Hearing location: Level 2, 414 Khyber Pass Road, Newmarket, Auckland 1023. Entrance from Kingdon st.

5 May

10:00am

Maureen Taru

Ms Taru is 70, is Pākeha and identifies as part of the rainboow community. She will give evidence of her experiences in Marycrest and Margaret Street Girls’ Home in Horowhenua in the mid 1960s. Following symptoms of emotional disturbances, she was seen by Dr Pugmire from Lake Alice, prescribed psychiatric medication and transferred to Kingslea Girls’ Home at his recommendation. At Kingslea she was placed in “Clinic”, a set of cells in which she was kept in solitary confinement for several months. Her mental health deteriorated and she was sent to a psychiatric unit for almost a year, where she was given strong medication. She will give evidence of the impact of being isolated, the lack of education, and the abuse she suffered in care.

2pm

Maryann Rangi

Ms Rangi is a 58 year old Māori (Ngāpuhi, Te Arawa) woman. She was removed from her family in Kaitaia and taken to Bollard Girls’ Home in Auckland aged 14 after an altercation at school. She was subjected to an internal vaginal examination on arrival at Bollard. She will give evidence of suffering humiliation in the form of having to strip, neglect/psychological abuse in the form of being denied showers, food, water and sanitary products.

Media enquiries: 027 298 2094; media@abuseincare.org.nz

About the Abuse in Care Inquiry

The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry is investigating the abuse and neglect that happened to children, young people and vulnerable adults in care from 1950 and 1999.