Churches in abuse inquiry

The Government has bowed to public pressure and announced it will include churches in its historical abuse inquiry.

It comes after months of resistance to investigate any faithbased organisations.

A royal commission into the historical abuse of children in state care, from 1950-1999, has been in a preliminary process since February.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Children’s Minister Tracey Martin announced yesterday that Cabinet had agreed to expand the commission’s remit to investigate abuse in church institutions as well.

‘‘Today paves the way for us to confront a dark chapter of our national history by acknowledging what happened to people in state care, and in the care of faith-based institutions, and to learn the lessons for the future,’’ said Ardern.

‘‘It was critical we got the royal commission right and the scope and purpose of this inquiry has been carefully considered.’’

Wellington’s Luke Hollis, who was sexually abused as a child in England by an adult in his former Jehovah’s Witness faith, was rapt with the news that churches would be included in the royal commission.

If New Zealand was anything like Australia, the move would have many more victims coming forward.

‘‘It is definitely the first step that needs to be taken and I’m glad it is being taken seriously. I think it is just great to encourage as many people as possible to come forward about these things,’’ Hollis said.

Ardern said she remained of the opinion that the Government’s first duty of care was to those who were abused in state care institutions. ‘‘But we had to listen.’’

And she gave an assurance that victims who were in state care would not have their investigation diluted in any way as a result of the scope of the inquiry expanding.

The first interim report of the royal commission would focus only on abuse suffered by state care victims.

The royal commission received more than 400 submissions on its draft terms of reference.

Extending the scope to include borstals, boys homes and orphanages run by religious institutions was one of the most sought after changes, Martin said.

‘‘We must learn from the mistakes of the past, and take responsibility for them. That’s why we have asked that the first interim report of the inquiry be focussed on state care. That will be reported back by the end of 2020.

A separate report will be focussed on the abuse of children in faith-based institutions.

‘‘We recognise the seriousness of abuse and confirm our commitment to considering future measures to help protect all children, young people, and vulnerable adults.’’

Martin said she was confident the commission panel had the ‘‘right mix of integrity, mana and credibility to carry out the difficult job of hearing the survivors’ stories and identifying issues, including future issues, that we need to address’’.

The inquiry has a budget of $78.85 million over four years.