Schedule change - Gloriavale and Dilworth leaders among those to be questioned in upcoming abuse in
The Royal Commission’s Faith-based Institutional Response public hearing has been extended by one day, to Friday 21 October.
The hearing to examine the responses of faith institutions to abuse and neglect of children, young people and vulnerable adults in their care will now take place on 13 October and from 17-21 October.
The hearing will no longer sit on 14 October. Dilworth School and Anglican Church in Aotearoa New Zealand witnesses will now give evidence on the afternoon of Wednesday 19 October and the morning of Thursday 20 October, with the hearing’s closing statements beginning in the afternoon of Thursday 20 October and continuing on Friday 21 October.
A full updated hearing schedule and witness list are below.
The Royal Commission will question the following faith institutions about their failures to provide adequate care and respond to allegations of abuse and neglect:
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- Gloriavale Christian Community
- St Patrick’s College, Silverstream
- Dioceses and congregations of the Catholic Church of Aotearoa New Zealand
- Wesley College
- Methodist Church of New Zealand
- Presbyterian Support Central
- Presbyterian Support Otago
- Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand
- Dilworth School
- Anglican Church in Aotearoa New Zealand
Multiple witnesses from each faith organisation have been called to give evidence.
Faith-based organisations will respond to questions around how care systems were monitored; the handling of complaints; the nature and extent of physical, psychological, sexual abuse and neglect; and to what extent their care met the needs of Māori, Pacific and Disabled people and people with mental health conditions.
This is the Royal Commission’s final public hearing. At its completion, the Royal Commission will have held 133 days of public hearings.
Evidence from our public hearings, investigations, survivor and witness accounts, research and policy review, hui, wānanga, fono and community engagement will inform the final report due to the Governor General in June 2023.
The six-day Faith-based Institutional Response public hearing will take place from 13-21 October 2022 (14th non-sitting day) at Level 2, 414 Khyber Pass Road, Newmarket, Tāmaki Makaurau. It will be open to the public and live streamed on the Royal Commission’s website.
About the Inquiry
The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry is investigating the abuse of children, young people and vulnerable adults within State and faith-based institutions in Aotearoa New Zealand between 1950-1999. We can also learn from the experiences of survivors who have been in care after 1999. The Royal Commission will deliver its final report in June 2023.
For Media
Media enquiries: 027 298 2094; media@abuseincare.org.nz
Hearing schedule and witness list
Thursday 13 October
Morning
Opening statements of core participants and individuals/groups granted leave to appear (excluding faith-based institutions who will give opening statements on the day of their evidence)
Afternoon
GLORIAVALE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY
- Howard Temple – Overseeing Shepherd of Gloriavale Christian Community
- Rachel Stedfast – Acting Principal of Gloriavale Christian School
Friday 14 October
No hearing sitting today
Monday 17 October
Morning
CATHOLIC EDUCATION - ST PATRICK’S COLLEGE SILVERSTREAM
- Fr Tim Duckworth - Society of Mary
- Clare Couch – Chairperson, Board of Proprietors
- Sean Mahony – Chairperson, School Board
- Rob Ferreira – Rector
Afternoon
THE DIOCESES AND CONGREGATIONS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH OF AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND
- Cardinal John Dew – Archbishop of Wellington, Apostolic Administrator of Diocese of Palmerston North and President New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference
- Dr Paul Flanagan, Member of the National Safeguarding and Professional Standards Committee
- Bishop Steve Lowe – Bishop of Auckland and Apostolic Administrator of Diocese of Hamilton
- Bishop Patrick Dunn – Bishop Emeritus of Auckland
- Sister Sue France – Congregational Leader, Nga Whaea Atawhai O Aotearoa Sisters of Mercy New Zealand.
Tuesday 18 October
Morning
THE METHODIST CHURCH OF NEW ZEALAND (Contextual)
- Reverend Tara Tautari – General Secretary of the Methodist Church of New Zealand
Morning and afternoon
THE METHODIST CHURCH OF NEW ZEALAND AND WESLEY COLLEGE
Panel One
- Reverend Tara Tautari – General Secretary of the Methodist Church of New Zealand
- Etuini Talakai – Vice President of the Methodist Church of New Zealand
- Chris Johnston – General Secretary of Wesley College Trust Board
- Reverend Ian Faulkner – former Principal of Wesley College
Panel Two
- Reverend Tara Tautari – General Secretary of the Methodist Church of New Zealand
- Etuini Talakai – Vice President of the Methodist Church of New Zealand
- Dr Brian Evans – Principal Wesley College
Wednesday 19 October
Morning
PRESBYTERIAN SUPPORT CENTRAL
- Muhammad Naseem (Joe) Asghar - Chief Executive Officer of Presbyterian Support Central
- Patrick Waite – former Chief Executive Officer of Presbyterian Support Central
PRESBYTERIAN SUPPORT OTAGO
- Jo Rowe – Chief Executive Officer of Presbyterian Support Otago
Afternoon
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND
- Wayne Matheson - Assembly Executive Secretary of PCANZ
- Dilworth Survivors Class Action Group Opening
- Dilworth School and Trust Board Opening
ANGLICAN EDUCATION - DILWORTH SCHOOL
- Dr Murray Wilton – former Dilworth Headmaster
Thursday 20 October
Morning
ANGLICAN EDUCATION - DILWORTH SCHOOL - continued
- Derek Firth – former Trustee and Chairman of the Dilworth Trust Board
- Aaron Snodgrass – Trustee and Chairman of the Dilworth Trust Board
ANGLICAN CHURCH IN AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND
- Right Reverend Ross Bay – Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Auckland
- Most Reverend Donald Tamihere – Archbishop of Aotearoa
- Most Reverend Philip Richardson – Archbishop of New Zealand
Afternoon
ANGLICAN CHURCH IN AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND
- Right Reverend Ross Bay – Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Auckland
- Most Reverend Donald Tamihere – Archbishop of Aotearoa
- Most Reverend Philip Richardson – Archbishop of New Zealand
Closing statements begin
Friday 21 October
Morning
Closing statements continue