A screen shows New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon as he apologizes ‘formally and unreservedly’ in Parliament for the widespread abuse, torture and neglect of hundreds of thousands of children and vulnerable adults in Wellington, New Zealand. 12 November. (AP)

WELLINGTON, New Zealand, November 12, (AP): New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon made a “formal and unreserved” apology in Parliament on Tuesday for widespread abuse, torture and neglect of hundreds of thousands of children and vulnerable adults in care. “It was terrible. It was so heartbreaking. It was wrong. And it should never have happened,” Luxon said, speaking to MPs and a public gallery full of abuse survivors.

Nearly 200,000 people in state, foster and faith-based care suffered “unimaginable” abuse over a seven-decade period, according to a stunning report published in July at the end of the largest investigation ever carried out in New Zealand. “For many of you, this has changed the course of your lives, and the government needs to take responsibility for that,” Luxon, New Zealand’s Indigenous people, said.

He said he also apologized on behalf of previous governments. He added that in state-run institutions, including hospitals and residential schools, as well as foster and church care, vulnerable people “must be safe and treated with respect, dignity and compassion.” “But instead you were subjected to horrific abuse and neglect, and in some cases torture.”

The findings of the six-year investigation, believed to be the most comprehensive among similar investigations worldwide, were described as a “national disgrace”. ‘Violations against children who were separated from their families and placed in nursing homes.

Of the 650,000 children and vulnerable adults in New Zealand’s state, foster care and church care between 1950 and 2019 (in a country with a population of 5 million today), almost a third suffered physical, sexual, verbal or psychological abuse. Many more were exploited or neglected.