200,000 Children and Vulnerable Adults Abused in New Zealand, Report Finds
New York TimesAUG 3 2024
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon Tuesday apologized to hundreds of thousand of people reportedly abused and neglected over 70 years in New Zealand's state and faith-based care institutions. In his "unreserved" apology, Luxon called the revelations "horrific" and "heartbreaking."New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on Tuesday made a "formal and unreserved" apology in parliament to over 200K people who suffered "horrific" abuse and neglect in state and faith-based care institutions between 1950 and 2019.
Luxon's apology in Parliament follows a Royal Commission of Inquiry report based on a public probe in July — reportedly New Zealand's largest ever. A disproportionate number of those abused, tortured, and neglected in the 1950-2019 period belonged to the indigenous Māori group.Luxon's apology comes after a Royal Commission of Inquiry in July found that nearly a third of 650K children and adults in New Zealand's state, foster, and church care endured physical, sexual, verbal, and psychological abuse for over 70 years.
Luxon Tuesday apologized to the survivors "on behalf of my own and previous governments." The inquiry report is based on testimonies of around 2.4K abuse survivors. Around $10.7K have been paid on average to 4K people since 2001 as redressal for their institutional experience.The inquiry, based on testimonies of around 2.4K survivors of abuse, also found that many of the abused people belonged to the Māori and Pacific communities. About NZ$18K ($10.7K) has been paid on average to 4K people since 2001 as redressal for their institutional experience.
A parliamentary apology falls drastically short for survivors of abuse in New Zealand's care institutions. True accountability demands a shift beyond symbolic gestures, requiring compassion and action directly within affected communities. The government’'s words should be paired with immediate, systemic reforms, direct survivor engagement, and financial redress. Survivors need sustained protections, oversight, and tangible policy changes to prevent future harm, not mere statements. Apologies alone cannotcan't restore their dignity — only a profound and actionable commitment to justice will.
Prime Minister Luxon’'s apology in Parliament marked a powerfuldecisive step forward, symbolizing New Zealand’'s commitment to course correction after the damning Abuse in Care report. This act is a public acknowledgment of past failures and a pledge to honor survivors with actionable change. While words alone cannotcan't heal, Luxon’'s address represents a hopeful beginning towards genuine reform, reinforcing the nation’'s resolve to prioritize human rights, accountability, and compassion in shaping the future.