New Zealand’s Royal Commission of Inquiry reveals widespread abuse in state and faith-based care.
An independent inquiry found that nearly one in three people in state or religious care in New Zealand between 1950 and 2019 experienced abuse, totaling around 200,000 individuals over seven decades.
The royal commission described the abuse as a “national disgrace” and stated that sexual abuse was common, with abusers grooming and trafficking victims. Physical abuse was also prevalent, with some staff going to extreme measures to inflict pain.
Maori and Pacific Islander individuals were specifically targeted based on their ethnicity, facing cultural suppression and neglect in care. The commission spoke to over 2,300 survivors and made numerous recommendations, including legislative changes and creating a Ministry for Care.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon called it a “dark and sorrowful day,” promising to address the report’s recommendations and offer an official apology to survivors in November.
Luxon praised the survivors for their bravery and expressed a commitment to creating a safer environment for future generations.
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