Today the Prime Minister has issued a public apology to the survivors of abuse in state care. This is a significant milestone that signals the Government’s commitment to addressing the issues that failed survivors, their whānau and communities.

A copy of the Prime Minister’s apology can be found here.

Te Puni Kōkiri acknowledges the courage and strength of the survivors who shared their terrible experiences and the resulting lifelong impacts of what they endured. We support the words of the Prime Minister and will do our part to put right the wrongs of the past.

Te Puni Kōkiri has recently received claims for redress relating to the involvement of the Department of Māori Affairs with the Whakapakari Youth Programme and the Matua Whāngai Programme. We are working on our response to these claims.

Te Puni Kōkiri acknowledges the findings and recommendations of the Royal Commission’s Final Report – Whanaketia – and the impact that abuse in care had on Māori. The Royal Commission presented many findings that pertained to Māori children and young people including that they were, and continue to be, overrepresented in care settings.  Current evidence shows that tamariki Māori are consistently more likely to be reported to Oranga Tamariki than non-Māori.

Work is being undertaken across the public service to address the Royal Commission’s findings in Whanaketia – that seeks to address the wrongs of the past, ensure the safety of the current care system, and empower whānau and communities to make their own decisions relating to their care and wellbeing.

Te Puni Kōkiri has been an active member of the government cross-agency response to the Abuse in Care Inquiry since the Royal Commission was first established in 2018. We are committed to effecting meaningful and enduring change and will be closely involved in the government response to the findings of the Royal Commission and its recommendations.

Ki roto i ngā manaakitanga.