Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light
The Royal Commission into Historical Abuse in State Care and in the Care of Faith-based Institutions has released its final landmark report Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light.
The report represents the largest and most complex public inquiry ever held in Aotearoa New Zealand. After nearly 6 years of inquiry and the testimony of around 3,000 survivors, the 16-volume report makes recommendations covering all aspects of the care system.
The Royal Commission’s final report is also available in an executive summary published in accessible formats and te reo Māori.
Advice will be provided to Government on the final report and recommendations to Cabinet over the coming months.
Meanwhile Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced he will make a formal public apology at Parliament on 12 November to those who experienced abuse in state and faith-based care.
In response to the Royal Commission’s earlier recommendations, several initiatives are already underway. Amongst them, the development of a shared agency approach to make it easier for survivors and care experienced people to access their personal care records
Practices like the redaction guidance and the scope and definition of care records assist agencies including schools, to properly manage all the personal care records they hold.
Redaction guidance – Crown response to the Abuse in Care Inquiry(external link)
Scope and definition of care records – Crown response to the Abuse in Care Inquiry(external link)
High level proposals for the design of a new redress system have also been drawn up with the expertise of survivors. The proposals put emphasis on having a system that’s safe, accessible, trauma informed and culturally responsive, that connects with and supports survivors to navigate their redress journey.
The Ministry is also implementing rapid payments for sensitive claims of abuse in state schools. Survivors were recently invited to help design and improve the Ministry’s alternate dispute resolution processes to hear and respond to these claims.
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