Karanga te pō! Karanga te ao! Karanga te kaupapa o te rā. Tihei mauri ora. Ko te reo pōhiri e karanga atu nei ki te tini me te mano, kia whakarauika mai ki tēnei huihuinga tūmatanui. E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e ngā hau e whā, whakatau mai rā.

Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei will host the Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry for its Māori investigation public hearing at the Whare Tupuna Tumutumuwhenua, Ōrākei Marae, from 6 to 17 September 2021.

Inquiry Commissioner and Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei leader, Julia Steenson, also of Tainui descent, notes “Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei feels privileged to host the Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry Māori investigation hearing in our wharenui Tumutumuwhenua. The whakairo adorning the inside of the wharenui represents the hononga Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei has with ngā iwi māori across the motu. Our wharenui, our āhuru mōwai will proudly extend te rau aroha to receive and manaaki the whakapapa, mana and tapu brought by the many brave Māori survivors who will share their kōrero throughout the duration of the hearings."

Commissioner Anaru Erueti, of Ngā Ruahinerangi, Ngāti Ruanui and Te Ātihaunui ā Pāpārangi, says “The public hearing will allow Māori survivors to share the circumstances of how they came into care, what happened to them in care, and the impacts of the abuse they suffered. The Inquiry will also hear culturally appropriate recommendations for transformative change.”

Among the key kaupapa to be presented to the hearing – through survivor experiences and experts – will be the abuse suffered by Māori in care which includes intergenerational impacts, racial discrimination and a focus on contemporary experiences of abuse in care.

The Inquiry’s interim report Tāwharautia: Pūrongo o te Wā has found Māori have suffered more than most, both individually and collectively. Māori have been overrepresented in care for generations, have been disproportionately subjected to abuse, and the disproportionate representation of Māori children in care continues to this day.

We encourage all Māori survivors of abuse in care to continue coming forward and engage with the Royal Commission of Inquiry. To contact the Māori investigation team please email David.Green@abuseincare.org.nz. For further details please visit www.abuseincare.org.nz.(external link)

Māori investigation public hearing dates: Monday 6 to Friday 17 September 2021

Hearing location: Ōrākei Marae, 59B Kitemoana Street, Ōrākei, Auckland 1071

Media enquiries: Arrun Soma, 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. The Inquiry is due to deliver its final report in March 2024.