Distressing content warning. 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

Distressing content warning. Ms EM gave 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

Distressing content warning. Ms EJ was taken into State care in 1990s and gave 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

Distressing content warning. Ms EL is a Pākehā survivor who gave 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

Distressing content warning. 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

Distressing content warning. Emily Keddell. At the time of the hearing Emily Keddell was an associate professor at the University of Otago. Her research focussed on child welfare inequalities, child protection decision-making, the politics of child

Closing panel for the Māori public hearing. The panel was made up of five representatives who spoke from different lived experiences. Some are survivors, and others have worked with survivors and in the State care system. Panellists listened to all

2026 Abuse in Care - Royal Commission of Inquiry.

Distressing content warning. 2026 Abuse in Care - Royal Commission of Inquiry.

Distressing content warning. Ms NN shared her lived experiences of abuse in State care and social worker neglect, including how that neglect exacerbated her experiences of abuse. Ms NN also talked about her experiences of racism in the State care