Public Service Commissioner Peter Hughes apologises at inquiry

The Public Service Commissioner has apologised to survivors at the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care this afternoon.

The inquiry wrapped up two weeks of hearings for 14 government agencies.

Public Service Commissioner Peter Hughes said, when he was chief executive of the Ministry of Social Development, it let down survivors Keith Wiffin, Paul White and Earl White in particular - when they sought redress.

"I apologised to each of them [survivors] at the time for the failure of the state to protect them from abuse while in care and also for the further harm the Ministry of Social Development caused them in managing their claims. I repeat those apologies here today. In addition, I sincerely and unreservedly apologise for the other failings identified, subsequently by the Commission."

Ministry staff "lost sight of the human beings at the centre of the claims," he said.

"I deeply regret that."

Hughes said he was committed to leading change across all public services.

"Throughout my career I've seen how good people can lose their way in big systems, in organisations and in institutions. I strongly believe that most people work in the public service because they care and they want to make a difference. That is why they are here."

In particular, Oranga Tamariki needed to listen harder to what in children in care wanted, he said.

"That needs to improve, leadership in that organisation needs to improve. I have played a role in driving that performance improvement as Public Service Commissioner, but the system also needs to improve."

He said the work Oranga Tamariki chief executive Chappie Te Kani was leading "to build relationships and partnerships with Māori, and to share decision-making with them, I also find very hopeful".

"The prospect that we can ever succeed in the system by exercising decision rights over Māori, whānau, hapū and iwi, by force of law, is destined to fail. And so the system changes that he [Te Kani] is leading are some of the most hopeful I've seen in my career."

Hughes took full responsibility for public service failings admitted this week.

These included the state's failure to stop abuse, to believe reports of abuse and failing to meet the basic needs of youth - especially those with mental health problems and disabilities, Pāsifika, and tangata whenua.

Keith Wiffin told the inquiry, he took some comfort in seeing government agencies forced to own up to their past.

Some explanations also gave him hope that things might change, he said.

But he was scathing of the passing of a controversial new law that changed the oversight of Oranga Tamariki, this week.

The defence of it by some senior bureaucrats was insulting, he said.

"The OT Bill is seen by us as not representing progress, but in fact a consolidation and retention of power and control that agencies have always had. The officials have won the day, and we have not been listened to."

A truly independent monitoring service of state care, was needed, Wiffin said.

Another survivor, Frances Tagaloa, told the hearing she heard some positive things, but they hadn't changed her view that an institution would always move to protect itself.

"I heard excuses, explanations, defensive reasonings, justifications for mistakes and problems. We need state institutions to see and understand the need for healthy accountability."

Another survivor Jim Goodwin, who was at the hearing on Friday afternoon, told RNZ Hughes' apology "seemed heartfelt".

"He seemed to me to mean what he was saying. And I say good on him, that takes guts and integrity," he said.

"There was quite a lot of bureaucratic speak throughout the [past] two weeks. And if the [state] apology is like that, it won't really mean much. But if it's personal and delivered, with the quiver in the voice, which he had, then that will be awesome. But we will see."