New Zealand PM Christopher Luxon Issues Historic Apology to Abuse Survivors in State and Church Care
Wellington, New Zealand – In a historic address to parliament, New Zealand Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon issued a formal apology to survivors of abuse in state and religious care, acknowledging decades of systemic mistreatment. “It was horrific. It was heartbreaking. It was wrong. And it should never have happened,” Luxon said, underscoring the gravity of the abuse endured by vulnerable individuals across New Zealand.
The apology follows an independent Royal Commission of Inquiry report from July, which revealed that nearly 200,000 children, young people, and vulnerable adults suffered abuse while in the care of state and faith-based institutions from 1950 to 2019. The inquiry described these cases as a “national disgrace,” finding that nearly one in three people in such care experienced abuse, with instances of sexual and physical abuse labeled “commonplace” and “prevalent across all settings.”
The inquiry’s findings painted a harrowing picture: staff inflicted extreme pain using weapons and electric shocks, and many cases of abuse were ignored or dismissed. It also revealed that Māori and Pacific Islander children were disproportionately targeted, and often prevented from engaging with their cultural heritage and practices.
The Commission made 138 recommendations, urging the government to issue public apologies and calling on the heads of New Zealand’s Catholic and Anglican churches to do the same. Other key recommendations included legislative reforms to make it easier to hold abusers accountable and establishing a Ministry for the Care System, which would operate independently from other government agencies.
“You deserved so much better. And I am deeply sorry that New Zealand did not do better by you,” Luxon stated. Addressing survivors’ past experiences, he added, “I am sorry you were not believed when you came forward to report your abuse. I am sorry that many bystanders – staff, volunteers, and carers – turned a blind eye and failed to stop or report abuse.”
The apology is seen as a significant step in New Zealand’s efforts to address past abuses. However, survivors and advocates continue to call for meaningful action to ensure accountability and reform in the care system.
