Commissioners will hear from two witnesses. Witness evidence summaries are outlined below.

After a witness speaks their full evidence, along with footage of them speaking, will be available for download.

The hearing is being live-streamed on the Abuse in Care website(external link). The link contains the full hearing schedule.

Hearing location: Fale o Samoa, 141 Bader Drive, Māngere, Auckland 2022

10.00am (approx.)

Joanna Oldham

Joanna Oldham is of Tongan and Palangi descent. She was unaware of her Tongan ethnicity or culture growing up and speaks about the racism experienced within her family. Joanna shares her experience of sexual abuse by a Reverend of the Anglican Church, followed by placements in various care settings including family homes, foster homes, and State residences including Kingslea Girls Home where she experienced many forms of abuse. 

2.15pm (Approx.)

Dr Seini Taufa

Dr Seini Taufa is the Research and Evaluation Lead for Moana Research. At the University of Auckland she taught in the areas of Social, Community and Pacific Health. Dr Taufa serves on various advisory groups and will outline how Pacific ethnicities have been recorded since 1950, the inadequacies in ethnicity recording and the impacts of this on Pacific peoples in general.

Media enquiries: 027 298 2094; 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.