Prime Minister Christopher Luxon addressed abuse victims gathered in Parliament and watching from across the country and acknowledged their terrible heartbreak.

“You have been heard. And you are believed,” Luxon said in the Debate Room.

“I am sorry that you were not believed when you came forward to report your abuse.

“I am sorry that so many people there (staff, volunteers and carers) turned a blind eye and did not stop or report the abuse. I am sorry that the government’s control over people in care is so weak.

Christopher Luxon apologized in parliament.
Photograph: screen capture

“I am sorry that many abusers were not allowed to face justice, which meant other people faced abuse that could have been prevented.

“I am sorry that the Government did not act quickly and boldly enough to provide much better protection for people in all care centres, and that those acting on behalf of the Crown overlooked you, the people behind the allegations.”

During one of the moments when only a few seats remained empty, some people in the public gallery stood to hear his remarks.

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Acceptance and apology did not come for a long time. Although much more action was needed, including appropriate compensation and compensation, this was a start; Luxon himself acknowledged this.

“Obviously, words need to be accompanied by actions,” he said. “We must do the right thing by you and provide you with the support you need. Second, we must do what we can to prevent future abuse from occurring.”

He said most survivors did not want to participate in the current compensation process, but more than 3,500 did, and signaled that an additional $32 million would be funneled into that system “while we work on the new compensation system.”

Opposition leader Chris Hipkins said he had formally joined the government in apologizing and said the day was an important step forward.

“Today is an extremely important day for all of you; a very important day to finally hear what the Crown has failed to give you for so many years, an apology. This is an extremely important day for us, that is, for the representatives of the Crown and the representatives of successive governments – finally, that we finally acknowledge that we have faced thousands of experiences of neglect, abuse, trauma, torture, and that we finally fully acknowledge our failures and offer our sincerest apologies.

“We are sorry. Today, all of Aotearoa New Zealand will bear witness to the truth, to the experiences of survivors, to our decades of willful ignorance, denial, disdain and our belief in ending the continuation of such horrors and despicable acts.”

He said the country owed a huge debt to the survivors.

Labor leader Chris Hipkins also issued an apology.
Photograph: Reece Baker/RNZ

Survivors speak out

Fa’afete Taito
Photograph: Provided

Three other survivors had also been selected to speak before.

Fa’afete Taito acknowledged those who “left to join their ancestors” and those who stood out but were ignored.

“If it weren’t for you, today wouldn’t be possible.

“It hurts to investigate the pain. But beyond that, what we wanted and needed was to take responsibility for what happened to us.”

He said survivors will see what responsibility looks like.

“No matter what happens today, our collective strength will make the biggest contribution to our healing journey. We owe this to ourselves.”

Keith Wiffen, who spends time at the Epuni Home for Boys, said he had heard “meaningless words” from the province before. He also acknowledged those who died without receiving today’s apology or effective compensation and called on the prime minister to work on this issue.

“You have given hope and raised the expectation that compensation will come soon. Now is the time to make it happen.

“Prime Minister, you must hold churches and faith-based organizations accountable. You must force them to do the right thing as the state has an obligation to all children under its umbrella.”

Tu Chapman called for the abolition of the Children’s Ministry, Oranga Tamariki, telling the Prime Minister “you owe us money now”.

Placed in state care before the age of two, Chapman remained there until she was 17.

“Five minutes. This is the time each of us has been given to speak on behalf of the tens of thousands of survivors in response to today’s apologies. Five minutes for decades of abuse, neglect and torture by state, church and faith-based rulers. This regime is giving us an apology from a Prime Minister we have not yet heard of.” The time it gives us to respond is only five minutes.

“Prime Minister, put your money where your mouth is.”

The public sector apologized

Andrew Bridgman
Photograph: RNZ / REECE BAKER

The day began with chief minister Erica Stanford welcoming the 250 survivors to Parliament’s banquet hall and telling them “today is about you”.

“You will never be forgotten. The stories of the thousands of brave survivors will forever be engraved in the pages of our history.”

They also heard from leaders of public sector agencies, with Oranga Tamariki’s Andrew Bridgman acknowledging the fear and abuse faced by children in state care.

“We didn’t listen when you asked for help. We looked away when you showed us the bruises…we’re sorry we didn’t give you a safe place to grow.”

Some in the audience shouted “sorry it’s not enough” and others shook their heads in disbelief as Bridgman spoke.

Director-General of Health Diana Sarfati said the health system had failed them due to an inadequate system of reporting abuse and neglect and a failure to take action when reported.

“In some cases, this alleged treatment was so abhorrent that the United Nations and the government recognized it as torture. This abuse was carried out by people in positions of authority who survivors should be able to trust, including caregivers and healthcare workers.”

Education Secretary Andy Johnson acknowledged that the care and needs of survivors should be a priority “and they weren’t… it wasn’t your fault… our failures spread across many communities and cultures”.

While Jackson received occasional applause, a member of the crowd shouted, “Apology without change is abuse.”

Social Development chief executive Debbie Power said the department may have believed it was saving children from harm, “but most of the time we were putting you in danger. We didn’t always protect you, and I’m very sorry about that”.

“Our remediation process does not always get everything right. I accept the Royal Commission’s finding that for some of you the process has been slow, traumatic and controversial.”

The audience’s reaction to Power was the most vocal yet – some had called on Power to release her files – but the strongest reaction was directed at the head of Crown Law, Solicitor General Una Jagose.

Sometimes he had to stop talking, struggling to be heard in the crowd, even if some went outside.

“I’m here today to say I’m sorry,” he said.

“No you’re not,” one person said. “You wanted us dead,” said another; “You never treated us with dignity”; “You paid big money to silence us.”

“I won’t turn my head. We will do better,” Jagose concluded, as boos and a small amount of applause could be heard in the hall.

Acting Police Commissioner Tania Kura had a much calmer response and received the loudest applause; He admitted that the police sometimes acted biased against the victims, sometimes not believing what they were told or not investigating.

“If you escape, we asked no questions and relied on the statements of those we took you back to. These failures spanned decades across multiple police administrations, and as the current commissioner, I take full responsibility.”

Finally, the Public Service Commissioner acknowledged the public sector’s failures to ensure and enforce standards of integrity and conduct of public servants.

“I regret that we cannot always fulfill these responsibilities.”