The leader of New Zealand, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, made a historic formal apology in Parliament to survivors of abuse in state and church care on Tuesday. This apology comes in response to a scathing report released in July that detailed the widespread abuse, torture, and neglect suffered by hundreds of thousands of children and vulnerable individuals over a seven-decade period.
In his address to legislators and a public gallery filled with survivors, Luxon acknowledged the pain and suffering caused by the failures of the government and various institutions to protect vulnerable individuals in their care. He stated, “It was horrific. It was a devastating experience. It was incorrect. And it should never have happened.”
The inquiry’s report, considered the most comprehensive investigation of its kind worldwide, revealed that an estimated 200,000 individuals in state, foster, and faith-based care experienced unimaginable abuse. The majority of these individuals were Māori, the Indigenous population of New Zealand. Luxon accepted the government’s responsibility for the injuries inflicted on these individuals and expressed remorse for the failings of previous administrations.
The government’s acknowledgment that certain children in a notorious state-run hospital were subjected to torture marks a significant departure from past denials of such claims. Luxon further expressed regret for the failure to believe survivors when they reported their maltreatment and the lack of accountability for the abusers who committed these heinous acts.
While Luxon’s formal apology was a step towards recognizing the atrocities committed against vulnerable individuals, survivors and advocates criticized the lack of concrete plans for financial redress. The inquiry’s recommendations, including apologies from state and church leaders and the establishment of redress mechanisms, have yet to be fully implemented. Luxon promised that a unified redress system would be in place by 2025, but did not provide specifics on the government’s anticipated payment.
Survivors who attended the Parliament session expressed mixed emotions, ranging from skepticism to hope for meaningful change. Some survivors voiced their concerns over the government’s approach to recognizing all survivors and emphasized the importance of taking decisive action to address the long-lasting impact of the abuse.
Luxon’s refusal to terminate public servants or ministers who denied the existence of state abuse in previous administrations and his defense of policies that disproportionately affect Māori, such as the establishment of boot camps and gang crackdowns, have raised questions about the sincerity of the government’s remorse. While Luxon emphasized the need for agencies to improve their performance and prevent future abuses, survivors and advocates continue to call for tangible actions to address the consequences of past wrongs.
In conclusion, the formal apology issued by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon marks a significant step towards acknowledging the systemic failures that led to the widespread abuse of vulnerable individuals in state and church care. However, the road to healing and accountability is long, requiring meaningful action and redress to address the deep-seated trauma and injustice experienced by survivors. Only through a commitment to justice, truth, and reconciliation can New Zealand begin to heal the wounds of its past and create a more just and compassionate society for all its citizens.
