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Abuse in Care - Royal Commission of Inquiry

Abuse in Care - Royal Commission of Inquiry

This Royal Commission is an independent inquiry into abuse in state care and in the care of faith-based institutions in Aotearoa New Zealand.

0800 222 727

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Share your experience Kōrerotia mai tō wheako
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  • (English) He Purapura Ora, he Māra Tipu
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  • 2.5 Survivors’ experiences of State and faith redress processes
  • Redress processes have caused further harm
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Redress processes have caused further harm

Many survivors found the experience of seeking redress to be itself highly distressing and traumatic. They are required to recount their experiences to strangers in often very considerable and intimate detail again and again to different people. In the process, they relive the abuse in a very powerful way. Survivors appreciate that some aspects of this process – such as the disclosures – are unavoidable, but the effects can be minimised through compassion, empathy and sensitivity – which are missing from all redress processes. Instead, they were met with disbelief, opposing attitudes and demands to prove events that took place decades ago, which was impossible as it involved children in situations where there were no witnesses and no evidence.

“I felt like I was being treated like a liar, even though no one actually took the step of talking to anyone who might know.”

 

Next: 2.6 Other avenues for redress

2.5 Survivors’ experiences of State and faith redress processes
  • 2.5: Survivors’ experiences of State and faith redress processes
  • Māori faces and tikanga values nowhere to be seen
  • Pacific survivors’ culture overlooked
  • Redress unobtainable for most Deaf and disabled people
  • Survivors feel without a voice in way redress processes work
  • Survivors feel left in the dark by inadequate information and contact
  • Lack of manaakitanga through stressful process
  • Advocacy and financial help hit and miss
  • Lack of independence or independent review
  • Frustration at lack of accountability
  • Failure to take preventive action and make system change
  • Long delays a cause of frustration
  • Apologies not meaningful
  • Financial payments are inadequate
  • Redress was inadequate to restore mana or oranga
  • No ability to respond to harm to whānau
  • Survivors felt powerless
  • Redress processes have caused further harm

So far, over 900 survivors have shared their experience. Join them. Ā mohoa nei, neke atu i te 900 purapura ora kua kōrero mai i ō rātou haerenga. Hono mai.

We cannot make any findings, reach conclusions or make recommendations without hearing the voices of those who have the lived experience of state or faith-based care.

Share your experience Kōrerotia mai tō wheako
0800 222 727 contact@abuseincare.org.nz
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  • Mō te Kōmihana a te Karauna About the Royal Commission
    • What the Royal Commission is about
    • How it works
    • Te Tiriti o Waitangi
    • Te Taumata
    • Survivor Advisory Group
    • Terms of Reference
    • Working with Māori
    • Our people
    • Deaf community
    • Pacific community
  • Ā mātou uiui Our inquiries
    • Māori experiences
    • Pacific People's experiences
    • Disabled peoples experience
    • State and faith-based redress
    • State psychiatric care
    • Children's State residential care
    • Anglican Church
    • Catholic Church
  • Kauneketanga Our progress
    • Latest updates
    • Reports
    • News
    • Timeline
    • Document Library
  • Kia whai wāhi mai Get involved
    • Sharing your experience
    • Sharing your experience from prison
  • Mā ngā purapura ora For survivors
    • Getting help and support
    • Legal assistance
    • Questions and answers
    • Survivor stories

If you would like to share your experience or have any questions about being involved please call our Contact Centre on 0800 222 727 weekdays 8:30am to 4:30pm (NZT) excluding public holidays or email: contact@abuseincare.org.nz. Anyone taking part in an investigation will be offered wellbeing support.


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