New Zealand Prime Minister Apologizes for ‘Horrific’ Care Home Abuse

Christopher Luxon, New Zealand’s Prime Minister, has formally issued an apology to individuals who suffered abuse in care facilities, following an investigation into one of the nation’s most significant abuse controversies. This landmark apology, delivered within the parliamentary setting, comes after a report concluded that 200,000 children and vulnerable adults experienced abuse while in state-run and faith-affiliated care between 1950 and 2019. A considerable number of these individuals included members of the Māori and Pacific communities, as well as those with mental or physical disabilities. The government has since committed to reforming the care system. On Tuesday, Luxon stated, “I make this apology to all survivors on behalf of my own and previous governments.” He further added, “It was horrific. It was heartbreaking. It was wrong. And it should never have happened,” continuing, “For many of you it changed the course of your life, and for that, the government must take responsibility.” The inquiry, which Luxon characterized as the largest and most intricate public investigation ever conducted in New Zealand, required six years to complete and involved interviews with over 2,300 survivors of abuse in state and faith-based care institutions. The subsequent report documented a broad spectrum of abuses, including rape, sterilisation, and forced labour. It revealed that faith-based institutions frequently exhibited higher rates of sexual abuse compared to state care; moreover, civil and religious leaders actively sought to conceal abuse by relocating perpetrators and denying culpability, resulting in numerous victims passing away without experiencing justice. These findings were perceived as a vindication for individuals who had confronted powerful bureaucratic structures, the government, and religious bodies, often encountering difficulty in being believed. On Tuesday, some survivors and advocates attended parliament to witness the Prime Minister’s apology, while hundreds of others watched via livestreams nationwide. Luxon had previously drawn criticism for presenting the apology in parliament, as this arrangement prevented many survivors from hearing the Prime Minister speak directly. Survivors have contended that Luxon’s apology lacks substance unless it is paired with concrete plans for restitution. Tupua Urlich, a Māori survivor who provided his testimony of abuse to the inquiry, informed the BBC’s Newsday programme, “The effects of that trauma came through later on in life.” He elaborated, “It’s not just the physical abuse, it was the disconnection from my family, from my culture.” He continued, “Justice? No, not yet… These words are nothing unless they’re followed by action, and the right kind of action that is informed by survivors.” Urlich added, “The government have proven that alone they’re not trusted, nor capable, of providing the sort of change and service that we need.” Information regarding a restitution program is not anticipated until early next year. Luxon stated on Tuesday that while the government develops a new financial compensation framework for survivors, it intends to allocate an additional NZ$32m ($19m, £15m) to its existing system. The inquiry had put forth more than 100 recommendations, among them calls for public apologies from New Zealand officials and religious figures, alongside legislation requiring the reporting of suspected abuse. Luxon indicated that the government has either finalized or is currently addressing 28 of these recommendations, though he did not provide specific details. A legislative proposal designed to enhance the protection of children in care underwent its initial reading in parliament on Tuesday, following Luxon’s apology. The proposed bill includes, among other provisions, a prohibition on strip searches and stricter limitations for individuals employed with young children. Furthermore, Luxon announced the establishment of a National Remembrance Day, scheduled for 12 November next year, to commemorate the anniversary of Tuesday’s apology. He concluded by stating, “It is on all of us to do all we can to ensure that abuse that should never have been accepted, no longer occurs.”