New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has issued a formal apology to victims of abuse in care homes, following a major inquiry into one of the country’s most significant abuse scandals. The apology comes after a report revealed that between 1950 and 2019, over 200,000 children and vulnerable adults were abused in state and faith-based care.
The report highlighted that many of the victims were from Māori and Pacific communities, as well as those with physical or mental disabilities. The government has committed to reforming the care system.
Speaking in parliament, Luxon expressed deep regret, stating, “I make this apology to all survivors on behalf of my own and previous governments. It was horrific. It was heartbreaking. It was wrong. And it should never have happened.” He added that the abuse had a lasting impact on many survivors, and the government must take responsibility.
The inquiry, described as New Zealand’s largest and most complex public investigation, took six years to complete and involved interviews with over 2,300 survivors. It revealed widespread abuse, including rape, forced sterilisation, and forced labour. The report also found that faith-based institutions had higher rates of sexual abuse than state-run facilities, and that both civil and religious leaders had worked to cover up the abuse, moving perpetrators to other locations and denying accountability.
For many survivors, the inquiry’s findings were a long-awaited vindication after years of being ignored or disbelieved. Some survivors and advocates attended parliament on Tuesday to hear Luxon’s apology, while many others watched the livestreams from across the country. However, some criticized the delivery of the apology in parliament, as it meant many survivors could not hear it directly from the Prime Minister.
Survivors have stressed that a formal apology is insufficient without concrete plans for restitution. Tupua Urlich, a Māori survivor, shared his experience with the BBC, noting that the trauma of abuse continued to affect his life. “It’s not just the physical abuse, it was the disconnection from my family, from my culture,” he said. “Justice? No, not yet. These words are nothing unless they’re followed by action.”
Details of a restitution scheme are expected to be announced early next year. In the meantime, Luxon announced an additional NZ$32 million (around US$19 million) to strengthen the existing support system for survivors.
The inquiry made over 100 recommendations, including public apologies from New Zealand authorities and religious leaders, as well as new laws requiring the reporting of suspected abuse. Luxon stated that the government had either completed or was in the process of addressing 28 of these recommendations.
Additionally, a bill aimed at better protecting children in care had its first reading in parliament following the apology. The bill proposes measures such as banning strip searches and tightening regulations on those working with young children.
Luxon also declared November 12 as National Remembrance Day, to be held annually, to commemorate the apology and ensure the lessons of the inquiry are never forgotten. “It is on all of us to do all we can to ensure that abuse that should never have been accepted, no longer occurs,” he concluded.
