Distressing content warning. Hake Halo is of Niuean descent. He and his parents came to New Zealand when he was six years old. He went to various primary schools, but he felt lost at school without knowing the language and he was put into a special

Distressing content warning. At the time of the hearing Rangi Wickliffe was 59 years old and is of Māori Irish, Scottish and German descent. He was taken into care at the age of six, and was put into 13 foster homes within 12 months. During this

Distressing content warning. At the time of the hearing Paul Zentveld was 61 years old and is a survivor of the Lake Alice Child and Adolescent Unit. He was admitted to the Child and Adolescent Unit five times between the ages of 13 and 15 where he

Distressing content warning. Dr Sutherland was a founding member of the Auckland Committee on Racism and Discrimination (ACORD) and spent years campaigning and advocating on behalf of many children who were in State care during the 1970s and 1980s.

Distressing content warning. Ms LL is of European and Māori descent (Tūwharetoa, Ngāi Tahu and Ngāti Kahungunu). Sadly, Ms LL has passed away and her statement will be read by her daughter (Ms Y). Ms LL was sexually abused at the age of 12 and

Distressing content warning. Opening statements from:. Anne Toohey – Counsel Assisting the Royal Commission. Racheal Schmidt McCleave - Counsel Assisting the Crown. David Stone – NZ Collective of Abused in State Care Charitable Trust. 2026 Abuse

Distressing content warning. At the time of the hearing Ms Rangi was 58 years old and is a 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

Distressing content warning. At the time of hearing Mr PM was 46 years old and is a Pākehā man who experienced sexual, physical and psychological abuse in care. He was placed in Hamilton Boys’ Home, foster care, Weymouth and Whakapakari. He gave

Distressing content warning. At the time of the hearing Ms T was 70 years old and is a Māori woman. She was physically and sexually abused by her father from a young age. At age 13 she was placed in care after her complaint to a Social Welfare

Distressing content warning. At the time of the hearing Ms Beard was 59 years old and is a Māori woman of Ngāti Porou and Welsh descent. She was placed in Strathmore Girls’ Home and Kingslea Girls’ Home in Christchurch, and Weymouth in Auckland