We know many have been impacted by the major weather events we’ve recently experienced across our country. First and foremost, we hope you and your whānau are safe, and we send you our aroha.  

Following requests from survivors, and major disruption for many, the Royal Commission is extending the closing date of survivor registrations by three weeks.

The new closing date is 21 March 2023.

For those survivors registered with the Royal Commission before this date, every effort will be made to hear your accounts by the end of April.

Several of the areas affected by flooding, power and communications outages have large Māori and gang whānau communities, two groups with high numbers of survivors of State and faith-based care. The Royal Commission wishes to hear from as many of these survivors as possible.

At a recent Hikoi Nation-led gang hui, the Royal Commission was asked by gang whānau to extend its survivor registration deadline, with almost 40 whānau registering at that hui alone.

The Royal Commission ends in late June 

The Royal Commission is coming to an end in late June. We want to let survivors know what this means for you.

During this closing period, until 30 June, the Royal Commission will continue to provide the following services to all survivors: 

• contact centre support 
• wellbeing support 
• survivors can call on the toll-free phone 0800 222 727 
• text 8185 
• email contact@abuseincare.org.nz 

Survivors will continue to receive regular pānui newsletters.

Recently the Crown Response Unit, a team set up to respond to the recommendations of the Royal Commission, announced it has recommended a new listening service for survivors after the Royal Commission. We will let you know more about this as we get information.

More than 4000 survivors have registered                

To date we have received more than 4000 registrations from survivors, and many have come forward to share their experiences. These experiences have helped inform our final report and recommendations.

Over the next four months, the Royal Commission will be focussed on preparing the St John of God/Marylands School case study report, and the findings and recommendations for its final report to the Governor General by 30 June 2023. 

We are here to support you 

We know that news the Royal Commission is now in its final months may be distressing for some.

Remember, we are here to support you if you need it. For wellbeing support, please get in touch with us through our contact centre at 0800 222 727 (Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm) or reach out to the services listed below.

• Alcohol and Drug Helpline 0800 787 797 or online chat for people dealing with an alcohol or other drug problem; 10 am to 10 pm) 
• Anxiety phone line 0800 269 4389 (0800 ANXIETY) 
• Depression Helpline 0800 111 757 or free text 4202 (to talk to a trained counsellor about how you are feeling or to ask any questions) 
• Family Services 211 Helpline 0800 211 211 for help finding (and direct transfer to) community based health and social support services in your area.
• Lifeline 0800 543 354 (0800 LIFELINE) or free text 4357 (HELP) 
• Need to talk? Free call or text 1737 any time for support from a trained counsellor 
• OUTline NZ 0800 688 5463 (OUTLINE) provides confidential telephone support for sexuality or gender identity issues; 9 am to 9 pm weekdays, and 6 pm to 8 pm weekends) 
• Rape Crisis 0800 883 300 (for support after rape or sexual assault) 
• Safe to talk (Available 24/7) 0800 044 334, free txt 4334, email support@safetotalk.nz, live webchat on www.safetotalk.nz. Free and confidential information and support from trained counsellors for people affected by sexual harm in any way. 
• Samaritans 0800 726 666 
  Skylight, 0800 299 100 for trauma, loss and grief; 9am–5pm weekdays 
• Suicide Crisis Helpline 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO) 
• Supporting Families in Mental Illness For families and whānau supporting a loved one who has a mental illness. Auckland 0800 732 825.  
• Victim Support This free service provides emotional and practical support, information, financial assistance, referral to other support services and advocacy for the rights of victims. 
• Youthline 0800 376 633, free text 234 or email talk@youthline.co.nz or online chat