ableism

Attitudes and behaviours society uses that privilege non-disabled people. This includes when negative assumptions are made about the skills, capacities and interests of disabled people, and when their lived experiences are denied.

accountability 

Being held responsible, answerable, or liable for relevant actions, behaviours, performance and decisions.

breach 

An act of breaking or failing to observe a law, agreement, standard or code of conduct without excuse or justification.

bystander 

In this report the term ‘bystander’ refers to staff, volunteers and carers who observed or witnessed abuse and neglect committed by an abuser of a child, young person or adult in care and had the opportunity to condone, intervene or do nothing. The Inquiry does not consider it appropriate to include children, young people or adults in care in the definition of bystander.

clericalism

In this report clericalism refers to the practices that uphold the power of clergy over others.

corporal punishment

The infliction of physical pain on a person’s body as punishment for breaking a rule or unwanted behaviour.

disablism

Conscious, direct discrimination against people who are disabled, based on their disability.

enforcement

The taking of any action by someone in a position of power with a view to, or in connection with, imposing a sanction, punishment or penalty.

impunity

In this report impunity refers to situations where an abuser acts as if they are free of blame, immune and exempt from reprimand, punishment, prosecution and sentencing for abuse and/or neglect. It includes the abuser knowing it is unlikely they will be held accountable for their actions.

Inquiry period

The time period of the Inquiry’s investigation: 1 January 1950 to 31 December 1999.

mental distress

A mental or emotional state that causes disruption to daily life and that can vary in length of time and intensity. People experiencing mental distress includes those who are seriously upset, people who are reacting normally to a stressful situation, and people with mental illness (whether medically diagnosed or not).

MVPFAFF+

Diverse sexualities, gender expressions and roles across Pacific cultures. It stands for māhū, vakasalewalewa, palopa, fa’afafine, akava’ine, fakaleiti (leiti), fakafifine.

oversight and monitoring

Oversight refers to actions taken to review and monitor organisations and their policies, plans, programmes, and projects.
Monitoring refers to tracking progress in the implementation of functions, programsmes and operations.

Aim of both oversight and monitoring is to ensure that an organisation is:

• achieving expected results
• efficiently using public funds and represent good value for money
• compliant with applicable policies, laws, regulations and ethical standards.

pastoral care

In this report the term pastoral care includes providing spiritual, social, emotional and material support or guidance for individuals or communities. It can also include visiting, counselling, religious counsel (including bible studies or other faith activities), or otherwise helping people in the Church community.

An individual in a pastoral care relationship will be in the care of a faith-based institution when a person with authority or power given by a faith-based institution develops a trust-based relationship with that individual through the provision of pastoral care and related to the faith-based institution’s work or enabled by the authority or power given by the institution.

professional body

An organisation with individual members practicing a profession or occupation in which the organisation maintains an oversight of knowledge, skills, conduct and practice of that profession or occupation. own good.

redress

Setting right what has been done wrong; what Aotearoa New Zealand might do to put right the profound harm that has been done to individuals, whānau and communities through abuse in care.

regulatory function

Means the making, setting, issuing or publicising of controls and restrictions on certain activities. It includes:

• determining whether such making, setting, issuing or publicising is authorised or required by law
• any action which is required or authorised to be performed before, after, or in connection with determining, making, setting, issuing or publicising.

safeguarding

Safeguarding is a preventative approach to protecting children, young people and adults in care by minimising or eliminating harm to that person.

standards of care

Standards of care set the baseline for how the rights of people in care will be protected and how they will be kept safe from abuse and neglect.

seclusion

Shutting away or keeping a person away from others in a room or area with a door that locks and unlocks from the outside.

Takatāpui

A traditional reo Māori word meaning ‘intimate friend of the same sex’. It includes all Māori who identify with diverse sexualities, gender expressions and/or variations of sex characteristics.

tāngata kāpō Māori

A reo Māori term for a person who is blind and Māori

tāngata Turi Māori

A reo Māori term for a person who is Māori and Deaf and may include those who are hard of hearing.

tāngata whaikaha Māori

A reo Māori term for disabled people. It reflects a definition of people who are determined to do well.

tāngata whaiora Māori

A reo Māori term for people who are seeking health.  It can also be used to refer to a person receiving assessment and treatment in mental health, addiction and intellectual disability services. 

Terms of Reference

The legal document setting out the Inquiry’s purpose and scope as set by the government, and the matters that are out of scope.

vetting

The action of examining someone to make certain that they are suitable for a job.