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To: Hon Erica Stanford: Lead Coordination Minister for the Government's Response to the Royal Commission's Report into Historical Abuse in State Care and in the Care of Faith-based Institutions.
Implement all recommendations from the Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry
Survivors of abuse in State and Faith-based care, and their supporters call on the Lead Coordination Minister for the Government's Response to the Royal Commission's Report into Historical Abuse in State Care and in the Care of Faith-based Institutions, to implement all of the 138 Recommendations of Whanaketia Through pain and trauma, from darkness to light and the 95 Holistic Recommendations of the Inquiry's Interim Report, He Purapura Ora, he Māra Tipu from Redress to Puretumu Torowhānui.
Why is this important?
We all want Aotearoa New Zealand to be a place where everyone can thrive. Certainly a place where survivors of abuse in State Care and in the Care of Faith-based Institutions can thrive. We know that what has happened to the estimated 250,000 vulnerable adults, children, and babies is a “national disgrace” according to Judge Coral Shaw, former Chair of the Abuse in Care Royal Commision of Inquiry.
The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry’s Final Report, Whanaketia: Through pain and trauma, from darkness to light, has 138 recommendations to improve the State Care system, Faith-based Institutions and other departments that have worked with some of New Zealand’s most vulnerable people [1]. The Interim Report, He Purapura Ora, he Māra Tipu from Redress to Puretumu Torowhānui, has 95 Holistic Recommendations to improve the current redress systems (Ministry of Social Development, Ministry of Health, Oranga Tamariki - Ministry for Children and Ministry of Education) for survivors of abuse in care [2].
Summary of the recommendations are:
Summary of the recommendations are:
- expansion of oranga, or wellbeing, services and support services for survivors and their whānau
- increased financial payments for survivors
- training for those working with survivors
- establishment of a listening service
- development of processes for referring allegations of abuse to other agencies
- better monitoring of, and reporting on, abuse and systemic issues
- memorials and other projects to honour survivors and remember abuse
- enactment of a right to be free from abuse in care, as well as a duty to protect this right
- an exception to accident compensation legislation
- changes to laws relating to civil litigation
- a review of legal aid rates
- a model litigant policy for the Crown
- improvements to the handling of survivors’ requests for records, including as few redactions of survivors’ records as possible
- a review of record-creation and record-keeping practices.
The Abuse in Care Inquiry has been in progress for the past six years. This is the largest inquiry into abuse in care that Aotearoa New Zealand has ever had.
These reports from the inquiry shed light on the harrowing and horrific experiences that survivors faced while in the care of the state and faith-based institutions, and emphasise the profound impact that abuse has had on survivors’ lives. Now is the time for action: for people across Aotearoa to come together and be part of the process that ensures that survivors in Aotearoa can thrive.
By signing this petition, you are standing up for the rights of survivors and sending a clear message to the Crown: They have a duty of care to survivors, and a duty to implement all of the recommendations from the Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry. Together, let's ensure that survivors are supported.
Join us in this crucial fight by signing the petition today and spreading the word to your friends, family, and community. Together, we can make a difference and safeguard the future of care and help survivors of abuse in State and Faith-based Care to thrive.
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Additional information and references:
In February 2018, former Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, and former Minister for Internal Affairs, Tracey Martin, announced that there would be a Royal Commission of Inquiry into abuse in care [3]. However, the formal work of the inquiry didn’t commence until January 2019.
Since 2019, the Inquiry has conducted a number of Hearings [4]:
- September to October 2020 - State Redress Hearing held
- November to December 2020 - Faith-based Redress (Phase 1) Hearing held
- March 2021 - Faith-based Redress (Phase 2) Hearing held
- May 2021 - Children's State Residential Hearing held
- June 2021 - Lake Alice Child and Adolescent Unit Hearing held
- July 2021 - Tulou - Our Pacific Voices: Tatala e Pulonga (Pacific People's Experiences) Hearing held
- February 2022 - Marylands school (St John of God) Hearing held
- March 2022 - Tō muri the p`o Roa, tērā a Pokopoko White-te-raa (Māori Experiences) Hearing held
- June 2022 - Foster Care Hearing held
- July 2022 - Ūhia te Māramatanga Disability, Deaf and Mental Health Institutional Care Hearing Held
- August 2022 - State Institutional Response Hearing held
- October 2022 - Faith-based Institutions Response Hearing held
The final report of the Inquiry was presented to the Governor General, Her Excellency The Right Honourable Dame Cindy Kiro GNZM, QSO on 25 June 2024, and released publicly following the tabling of the Final Report in the House of Representatives on 24 July 2024 [5].
*Disclaimer: more information will be provided in the Updates section
Image credit: Designed by artist Ruby Jones in collaboration with Karah Mackie and survivors of abuse in care