Faith-based institutions questioned on failures to prevent and respond to
abuse in care, during Royal Commission public hearing

Last Friday was the sixth and final day of the Royal Commission’s faith-based institutional response public hearing. 
 
The Royal Commission questioned leaders of the following institutions (in hearing schedule order):   

• Gloriavale Christian Community
• St Patrick’s College, Silverstream 
• Dioceses and congregations of the Catholic Church of Aotearoa New Zealand 
• Wesley College 
• Methodist Church of New Zealand 
• Presbyterian Support Central 
• Presbyterian Support Otago  
• Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand              
• Dilworth School 
• Anglican Church in Aotearoa New Zealand. 

The hearing ended on Friday with powerful testimony from members of the Royal Commission’s Survivor Advisor Group. Member Keith Wiffin warned organisations that had housed abusers in the past that times had changed. “It will not be allowed to happen again”. 
 
Another survivor, Frances Tagaloa, said it was important an independent body, which the Royal Commission had recommended, was established to deal with redress claims for survivors of state and faith-based abuse. 
 
“It just astounds me that a survivor is expected to go back to the very institution that perpetuated the abuse, to seek redress.” 
 
You can watch faith-based witness evidence on the Royal Commission’s website 
Videos of all witness evidence, and the testimony from the Royal Commission’s Survivor Advisory Group members, will be available on the Royal Commission’s website here soon. 

A message to survivors from Royal Commission chairperson Coral Shaw 

Kia ora koutou katoa 
 
Friday was the last day of the Royal Commission’s public hearings, but it is certainly not the end of the Inquiry as public hearings are just one way we gather information for our final report. 
 
We are continuing to assess survivor and witness accounts and you can contact us at any time to provide your input. 
 
We are also still listening to communities in hui, wānanga, fono and community engagement sessions throughout the country. 
 
All of these will inform the Royal Commission’s final report and recommendations, due to the Governor General in June next year.

Public hearings have raised awareness

Hearings and the publicity they generate have raised awareness of the Royal Commission’s Inquiry – to survivors, their whānau and the public of Aotearoa New Zealand. 
  
Over the past four years we have held 133 hearing days, mostly listening to the distressing testimony of our brave survivors. 
  
The last two hearings have focussed on state and faith agencies and institutions. We asked their senior religious leaders to respond to what survivors have told us about their allegations of abuse and neglect of children, young people and vulnerable adults over many decades.  
  
We focused on their involvement and accountability for abuse and neglect in faith-based schools.

“We failed in our sacred duty”

Religious leaders and faith school governors have apologised for the harm and trauma caused to survivors who were abused while in their care. “We failed in our sacred duty”, said the Methodist Church. 
  
There has been a great deal of public interest in this hearing. Significant media coverage reflects the level of interest and concern shown by the public – importantly the hearing has been viewed by more people than ever before. 
  
For the faith-based hearing there were over 26,000 individual views by livestream. We don’t know who these viewers are, but we can guess that they are survivors, their families and friends who are scattered throughout our land, or overseas. 
  
We know that many survivors have been following these public hearings and we hope that watching has given you reassurance you are believed, you are not alone, and that everything possible is being done today to ensure the impact of your abuse in care is not passed on to future generations.

Ngā mihi mahana ki a koutou katoa   
  
Coral 

Media coverage 

Gloriavale Christian Community  

• TVNZ One News – Gloriavale leader admits abuse wasn’t reported to police. Watch here
• NZ Herald – Gloriavale leaders admit past approach to sexual and physical abuse was 'ineffective' in rare public appearance. Read here
• Stuff – Abuse in Care: Answers sought from faith-based institutions as response hearing begins. Read here
• Stuff – In her own words: Faith-based abuse survivor wants action. Read and watch here
• Stuff – Gloriavale's top leader promises 'no more abuse' at the West Coast cult. Read here
• Radio NZ Morning Report – Kim Hill interview with Rosanna Overcommer. Listen here
• Pacific Media Network – Survivor testifies to abuse at five years old - churches in spotlight. Read here
• Newshub and Radio NZ – Former Gloriavale member says government failed to protect community from convicted child abuser. Read here

St Patrick’s College and the Catholic Church of Aotearoa New Zealand  

• TVNZ One News – Catholic Church leaders admit dealings of abuse inadequate. Read and watch here
  TV3 Newshub – Abuse in Care Inquiry: Catholic Church Cardinal reiterates apology for clergy abuse. Read and watch here
  Radio NZ – Former Catholic Bishop of Auckland questioned over recommending priest facing abuse allegations. Read here
  Stuff – Bishop admits to recommending priest who groomed teenager for teaching job. Read here
  Stuff, DomPost (front page) – St Patrick’s College Silverstream “abuser” portraits stay on walls of school’s “hall of fame”. Read here
  Pacific Media Network – Fakaleitī wants Catholic Church to pay for harm caused by conversion practices and abuse. Read here
  RNZ Morning Report – Former Catholic Bishop under spotlight at inquiry. Listen here
  RNZ - Mass walkout at Abuse in Care Inquiry. Read and listen here
  Stuff – The Catholic Church needs deep renewal if its abuse apologies are to mean anything. Read here

The Methodist Church of New Zealand and Wesley College 

• RNZ – Abuse in care inquiry: Methodist Church apologies to Wesley College abuse survivors. Read here
• Stuff, The Press – “We failed in our sacred duty”: Methodist Church responds to Abuse in Care inquiry. Read here
• RNZ Pacific – Rugby star reveals he is an abuse survivor. Read here
• RNZ Pacific – Methodist Church of New Zealand apologies to abuse survivors at Royal Commission. Listen here 
• Pacific Media Network – Wesley College old boy Sekope Kepu on how church, schools and survivors can move forward. Read here

Presbyterian Support Services 

• Otago Daily Times – Inquiry told of Dunedin paedophile ring. Read here
• Stuff – Abuse in care survivor feels “powerfully acknowledged” as Presbyterians apologise. Read here
• Otago Daily Times – Inquiry launched into paedophile ring claims. Read here

Anglican education – Dilworth School 

• TVNZ 1 News – Ex-Dilworth headmaster grilled over alleged actions to cover up abuse. Read and watch here
• NZ Herald – Dilworth sex abuse: Former headmaster Murray Wilton wrote positive references for men forced to resign. Read here
• Stuff – Former Dilworth School principal admits alleged abuse not fully investigated. Read here
• Radio NZ – Dilworth School ‘could have done better’, says former headmaster. Read here
• TVNZ One News – Ex-Dilworth leader blames school for not refuting cover-up allegations. Read and watch here  
• TV3 Newshub 6pm News – Dilworth School: survivors call for mandatory reporting of child abuse to police. Read and watch here 
• NZ Herald – Former Dilworth chair Derek Firth frustrated sex abuse cover-up allegations 'left to fester'. Read here  
• Stuff – Dilworth School staff dismissed students' claims of abuse, inquiry hears. Read here 
• RNZ – Dilworth School 'could have done better', says former headmaster at Abuse in Care Inquiry. Read here  
• TodayFM – Rachel Smalley: I applaud the survivors of abuse at Dilworth School. Read and listen here 
• Waatea News – Survivor advocate angry at abuse minister’s inaction. Read and listen here 
• One News – Dilworth leaders accused of disrespecting survivors. Read and watch here
• Stuff and Weekend Press – Survivors have the last say on the final day of hearings for the abuse in care Royal Commission of Inquiry. Read here 
• Te Ao Māori News – Dilworth abuse cover-up allegations left to ‘fester like an unlanced boil’. Read here

• Radio NZ – Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care: Public hearings finish with warning to institutions. Read here

Commissioner Julia Steenson

Commissioner Julia Steenson has resigned from her role to pursue other leadership opportunities.  
 
Ms Steenson said it has been a privilege to be a Commissioner since June 2020.  
 
“It was an honour to be appointed to the role of Commissioner for the Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry.   
 
“Listening to survivors of abuse share their experiences of harm and trauma has been both difficult but privileged mahi.  To lead and participate in engagements, most recently across diverse communities including Māori - as the most disproportionately affected cohort - has been a humbling experience,” said Ms Steenson.  
 
"I am proud of all that I have contributed to while I have been with the Commission. I will watch the Inquiry’s work with interest over the next eight months and I wish the very best outcomes for survivors.”  
 
During Commissioner Steenson’s time at the Commission, she co-chaired the Māori hearing; undertook around 100 survivor sessions kanohi ki te kanohi which enabled survivors to personally share their experiences; engaged with communities across the motu by listening to the hurt and mamae they suffered; and engaged on solutions that the Commission should recommend for the future.   
 
Commissioners have jointly thanked and acknowledged Commissioner Steenson for her commitment, passion and mahi. Commissioners also acknowledge that the Inquiry is in a strong position to complete the final report.  
 
Commissioner Anaru Erueti, who co-chaired the Māori hearing, said “We know that Māori have been disproportionately impacted by abuse in care. The Commission, through its private sessions, hearings and engagements around the motu, is committed to understanding the specific burden for Māori who have been in care. This includes the impacts on their whānau through the generations for our report findings and recommendations and the need to ensure survivors have access to proper holistic redress or puretumu torowhanui.   
 
“Julia has made a significant contribution to the Commission and Aotearoa in this regard, and we thank her for her valuable mahi,” he said.  
 
“We want to assure all survivors that while we will miss Julia, her contribution and whakaaro will be evident in the case studies, and the final report and recommendations.”     
 
Chair Coral Shaw said “The four commissioners, while saddened by the resignation of Commissioner Steenson, we are confident that we can complete the Inquiry’s investigation and evidence analysis. There is still a lot of work to complete in drafting the case studies reports and refining the recommendations, and the Commission is in a good position to complete this by 30 June 2023.”

How to get in touch with us 

Call us in New Zealand on 0800 222 727 between 8.30am and 4.30pm Monday to Friday. 

Call us from Australia on free phone 1800 875 745. 

Email us at contact@abuseincare.org.nz. 

Write to us at PO Box 10071, Wellington 6140. 

Visit our website www.abuseincare.org.nz.