Wellington: New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has issued a formal apology to the survivors of care abuse following a major inquiry into one of the country’s most significant abuse scandals.
The apology, delivered in parliament, comes after a report revealed that between 1950 and 2019, 200,000 children and vulnerable adults suffered abuse in state and faith-based care institutions.
Many of the victims were from Māori and Pacific communities, or had physical or mental disabilities.
The inquiry, described as the largest and most complex in New Zealand’s history, took six years to complete and included interviews with thousands of abuse survivors.
The report uncovered severe abuses, including rape, forced sterilization, and labor exploitation, and highlighted that faith-based institutions often had higher rates of sexual abuse than state-run ones.
Many abusers were moved to other locations to evade accountability, leaving victims without justice, and some passed away before being heard.
Today I stood before survivors of abuse in care as the representative of not only this Government, but all of the governments that have gone before us to offer a formal and unreserved apology for the abuse suffered while in state care, churches and other faith-based places.
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— Christopher Luxon (@chrisluxonmp) November 11, 2024
Luxon expressed deep regret for the trauma suffered by survivors, admitting that the “It was horrific. It was heartbreaking. It was wrong.” Luxon acknowledged the lasting impact it had on survivors’ lives, stating the government must take responsibility for the damage done.
Although some survivors attended the apology session in parliament, others criticized that it was not delivered in a way that allowed them to hear it in person. Survivors have demanded that the apology be followed by concrete actions, including restitution plans.
The government is expected to release details of a financial redress scheme early next year, alongside a NZ$32mn ($19m, £15m) investment into the existing care system.
A new bill aimed at protecting children in care was introduced, proposing measures such as a ban on strip searches and restrictions on people working with children. In addition, a National Remembrance Day will be held on November 12 next year to mark the anniversary of the apology.
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