PM’s apology helps with the healing but don’t expect it to happen overnight.
After six years of investigation and public hearings, concluding with the final report of the Abuse in Care inquiry – called Whanaketia – survivors have finally received an apology.
And it came from Prime Minster Christopher Luxon as well as from heads of State agencies, all made to give a full apology and take responsibility for the abhorrent treatment of children, young people and adults in the care of government institutions.
In 2018, under the direction of the Labour government, a Royal Commission of Inquiry was established to investigate abuse in state and faith-based care between 1950 and 1999.
More than three thousand brave survivors came forward to share their stories and the final report found that abuse in state care was widespread and continues to cause lifelong pain for survivors. It also made recommendations on how New Zealand can better care for people in those institutions.
Survivors were united in calling for State and faith-based leaders, all public sector leaders, leaders of relevant professional bodies and care providers, to make formal public apologies.
On Tuesday, November 12, survivors and their supporters gathered at parliament in Wellington to receive the apology led by the Prime Minister and followed by leader of the opposition Chris Hipkins.
The apology was live-streamed to where survivors gathered, in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch.
In attendance at the apology in Auckland, Labour MP Jenny Salesa said it was a sombre reminder of what people had endured.
“It really just tells you that some of us are really lucky enough to grow up in families where you have parents, aunties and uncles. But then there are those kids that the state and faith based organisations have taken, and the idea was that they would be raised in better environments. But as we know from this report, that hasn’t actually been the case,” she says.
“It is my hope that the policies that we come through with, regardless of whichever government gets it implemented as per the recommendations of this commission of inquiry.”
Longtime social advocate and founding member of the Polynesian Panthers Tigilau Ness says it has been a harrowing and long journey for survivors.
“This is a historic day…. it’s another milestone you know in our lives in Aotearoa. It’s part of our history now.”
Former attorney general and Labour MP David Parker said it was a sober day.
“It’s in some ways a terrible day, but on the other hand, it’s an important day to acknowledge what was wrong.”
62 year old Sherub who was in state care at the age of 14, was in Auckland for the apology and said it was important she was present to support her fellow survivors.
“I guess I take away the hope that maybe things will be honoured and things will change for myself. I’m part of that change and I have been from the beginning.”
Aroha, who is also a survivor of the state, travelled from the Bay of Islands with members of her whanau.
“I got up this morning thinking I wasn’t going to turn up… anxiousness was kicking in, but I pulled myself out of bed and managed to get here. Now that I’m here, I think I find myself fighting for those that aren’t here.”
Aroha says after hearing the apologies from heads of state agencies and the Prime Minister, she was not impressed.
“There was no emotion in it…a whole lot of words in front of them that don’t mean anything.
“As a survivor, they didn’t mean nothing for me. It didn’t fix my mamae (pain), that actually still hurts,” says Aroha
And while the hope that the apology is another step toward healing for survivors Aroha, a mother of three and proud grandmother of five moko, had these words of encouragement.
“My moko gave me the strength to come here, I’m glad I came,” she says.
“Stand strong, keep your head up, keep your chin up, hold your chin up, don’t drop and know that your tupuna are here and know that your fellow survivors are not only here physically but spiritually.”
