State care inquiry extends to churches

Royal commission starts its $78.85m task in January

An inquiry into the historic abuse of children in state care has been expanded to include abuse in churches. Speaking at her weekly postCabinet press conference, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said it was important the Government listened to the submitters who urged the Government to include faith-based institutions in its inquiry.

The inquiry now has a new name, the Royal Commission into Historical Abuse in State Care and in the Care of Faith-Based Institutions, to reflect its widened scope.

It can begin hearing evidence from January. A final report with its findings and recommendations will be submitted to the Governor-General in January 2023.

It has a budget of $78.85 million over four years, including more than $15m to help participants by providing counselling and related support.

Ardern said she knows some of the survivors and is proud to have played “even the smallest part” in the inquiry.

The inquiry’s duration has also been extended to four years to reflect the wider scope, Ardern said.

“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,” Ardern said.

She said of the 400 submissions received on the draft terms of reference, including faith-based institutions in the inquiry was one of the most strongly argued issues.

Cabinet confirmed the four other members of the inquiry to serve with chairman Sir Anand Satyanand: Ali’imuamua Sandra Alofivae, MNZM; Dr Andrew Erueti; Paul Gibson; and Judge Coral Shaw.

The inquiry, announced by the Prime Minister and Internal Affairs Minister Tracey Martin in February, covers circumstances where the state directly ran institutions, such as child welfare institutions, borstals or psychiatric hospitals. It also covers institutions contracted by the Government to provide services.

The inquiry covers 50 years from 1950 to the end of 1999.

Satyanand, a former GovernorGeneral, congratulated the Government on its decision. “It will be the largest royal commission that the country has ever undertaken.” He said the $78m price tag for the inquiry was “prudent”. “We are providing New Zealanders with a process of healing.”

Ardern said it was “very hard to ignore” the strength of the submissions from the people asking for the scope to be expanded to include faith-based institutions.

Satyanand said there is discretion to listen to accounts before 1950 and after 1999.

Ardern said the budget could increase, if the inquiry gets bigger.

Faith-based schools will also be scrutinised — including possibly Gloriavale, Satyanand said.

Ardern said if the commission called for it, the Government would issue a formal apology.

Satyanand said compensation would be considered. “Hearing the survivors’ accounts is a principle task we have and that could come to us in a variety of fashions.”

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 focused on state care.”

“Unlike some similar overseas inquiries, the royal commission will take a broad view of abuse and consider physical, sexual and emotional abuse and neglect.”

Catholic and Anglican leaders had called for the inquiry terms of reference to be broadened to include church institutions.