New Zealand / Abuse In Care

Unsafe Harbour: In honour of survivors and victims of abuse in state and faith-based institutions

06:58 am on 24 July 2024

Warning: This story and video includes graphic details of sexual abuse.

The final report of the Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry will be revealed today.

Survivors are expected to pack Parliament's public gallery when the almost 3000-page document is tabled this afternoon.

The report's tabling brings to a close almost six years of work by the Royal Commission.

More than 2300 survivors gave evidence to the inquiry, as the commissioners examined the prolific and systemic abuse which occurred in state and faith-based institutions from 1950 to 1999.

In honour of all survivors and victims of abuse in state and faith-based institutions, RNZ presents Unsafe Harbour: Surviving St John of God.

The Royal Commission of Inquiry was established in 2018 following decades of mounting pressure from survivors and advocates.

The inquiry's chair Judge Coral Shaw described the country's long history of systemic abuse as a "national disgrace".

When handing the final report to Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro, the commissioners said: "Meaningful action must start right now. For too long our nation has swept abuse and neglect in care by state and faith-based institutions under the carpet. That's not good enough. It must stop".

The Royal Commission's final report will be made public at 4pm.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is expected to make a formal apology to survivors in November.

*Video contains a Wikimedia Commons image.

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Abuse survivors

For male survivors -

Road Forward Trust, Wellington, contact Richard 0211181043

Better Blokes Auckland, 099902553

The Canterbury Men's Centre, 03 3776747

The Male Room, Nelson 035480403

Male Survivors, Waikato 07 8584112

Male Survivors, Otago 0211064598

For female survivors -

Help Wellington, 048016655

Help, Auckland 09 623 1296.

For urgent help: Safe To Talk 0800044334.

If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.