Abuse in Care Royal Commission visits Kaikohe and Kaitaia next week
Note to media: To maintain the privacy and safety of attendees at Information Hubs, as detailed below, media cannot visit the hubs in a reporting capacity. There is a contact name and number at the end of this media release for media wanting more details.
The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry is heading north to Kaikohe and Kaitaia from 24-27 May to talk with and listen to abuse survivors, their whānau, iwi and community organisations about their experiences of care by State and faith-based institutions.
Four Commissioners will travel to Kaikohe and Kaitaia. Coral Shaw (Chair), Julia Steenson, Dr Andrew Erueti and Ali’imuamua Sandra Alofivae.
“Abuse in State and faith-based care has been so widespread that every corner of Aotearoa has been impacted and the Commissioners will be visiting a number of those corners,” said Chair Coral Shaw.
“Our findings to date confirm Māori were overrepresented in abuse in care compared with other groups. The Inquiry is focussed on listening and learning from Māori communities directly.”
“It will be a privilege to visit Kaikohe and Kaitaia. We are looking forward to sharing our work and insights with survivors, their whānau, iwi and communities and to listen to their thoughts and accounts.”
“We thank iwi and community organisation leaders for welcoming us to their rohe.”
“It is a priority for us to ensure that our work contributes to the vision and aspirations of iwi and communities for how vulnerable people are cared for in the future. We want to hear from people about their own accounts, and the intergenerational and wider community impacts of abuse in care.”
Commissioners will be meeting with iwi and community representatives.
Survivors, whānau and members of the public can attend Abuse in Care Royal Commission Information Hubs to meet with staff members.
“Together, we can develop recommendations to transform the way Aotearoa New Zealand cares,” said Chair Shaw.
Information hubs
Each location will have an Information Hub as a drop-in centre for survivors, their whānau and wider hapōri.
Please visit us if you’re in the Kaikohe or Kaitaia regions.
Members of the public are welcome to attend to learn more about the Royal Commission’s work.
There will be staff who can answer questions, provide information and manaakitanga.
Survivors or family members may wish to discuss how they can have input into the Royal Commission’s work. Our staff can explain how they can do that.
Kaikohe – Te Pū o te Wheke
A Royal Commission Information Hub will be held at Ngāpuhi Iwi Social Services, 12 Marino Place, Kaikohe for survivors, their whānau or members of the public to visit.
1-5pm, Tuesday 24 May
10am – 3pm, Wednesday 25 May
Kaitaia – Muriwhenua
A Royal Commission Information Hub will be held in the Te Ahu Community Centre, Kaitaia, for survivors, their whānau or members of the public to visit.
1pm-5pm, Thursday 26 May
10am-2pm, Friday 27 May
Survivors and whānau wanting more information can email us contact@abuseincare.org.nz or phone 0800 222 727.
Haerenga in other regions
The Kaikohe and Kaitaia haerenga are part of the Royal Commission’s ongoing regional outreach programme. We will also be visiting:
- Ōtepoti Dunedin: 30 June and 1,2 July
- Tairāwhiti Gisborne: last week of July
- Waikato/Bay of Plenty: August
Further details and confirmed dates will be announced soon.
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, to make recommendations to help stop abuse happening in the future.
The Royal Commission is due to deliver its final report to the Governor General by 30 June 2023.
Media contact:
Arrun Soma
027 298 2094