2.4 Attempts at independent investigation, accountability and redress Te whai i ngā tūhuratanga, haepapatanga, puretumu motuhake
2.4.1 Whakatakinga - Introduction
718. In the decades after the abuse at Lake Alice Hospital, survivors repeatedly tried to hold Dr Selwyn Leeks and other staff to account and to obtain compensation or redress for the abuse they suffered. There were some successes, but overall the response of public officials, NZ Police and professional bodies was unsatisfactory. In some cases, this flowed from inherent professional or institutional limitations. In others, it was the result of active resistance or discrimination. In this section, we detail the various attempts and the hurdles survivors faced in their battles for independent investigation, accountability and redress. Māori, Pacific peoples and disabled people faced particular challenges when seeking accountability, including discrimination by officials. We acknowledge their efforts and the persistence of survivors to seek justice despite the many barriers placed in their way.