Kia ora koutou,  

Warm greetings as we update you on some important dates and information. 

The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry ended on 25 June. A small team is now closing the inquiry down. 

We want to acknowledge that many survivors and their supporters have found unity and community through the Royal Commission. While the Royal Commission is closed and this is one of the final pānui, we know many of you will be empowered to continue building these communities beyond the Royal Commission.  

In this pānui, we want to: 

• provide contact centre closure details, and survivor supports that will soon be stopping;  
• let you know about how and when the Royal Commission’s final report and recommendations will become public, and about the tabling of it in Parliament; 
• provide details for the Survivor Experiences Service, where survivors, and their whānau, can continue sharing their experiences; and, 
• draw your attention to an upcoming survivor-led visual and performing arts exhibition that captures their narratives and experiences.  

We thank you for your participation throughout the Royal Commission and we encourage you to continue seeking support from those close to you in the weeks and months ahead. 

Royal Commission Contact centre closure, wellbeing support and requesting documents  

Our contact centre closes on Friday 2 August.

Up until this date, registered survivors can still request short-term wellbeing support. The Royal Commission cannot provide long-term wellbeing support.  

You can also request your private session transcript and/or witness statement from the Royal Commission. The last day to request your documents is Wednesday 31 July.  

From Friday 2 August, our contact centre number and email address will be closed. 

Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light 

We want to remind you that the Royal Commission’s final report and recommendations, ‘Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light’, will be publicly released on the afternoon of Wednesday 24 July. It becomes public after Minister of Internal Affairs tables Whanaketia in Parliament. We understand Ministers, including the Prime Minister, and Members of Parliament from other parties will briefly speak to the report. 

The final report will be published on our website www.abuseincare.org.nz after it is tabled in Parliament.

The final report's executive summary will be published on the website in a range of accessible and alternative formats. These are: video with subtitles, New Zealand Sign Language, Braille, large print, audio file, easy read and a reo Māori translation.

The report is comprehensive and has approximately 2,500 pages. It includes 16 volumes of material that cover context, what happened, why it happened, specific case studies, survivor experiences and recommendations for the future. The Inquiry makes significant findings, that abuse and neglect were pervasive across many settings and that abusers acted with impunity. The report makes far-reaching recommendations for righting the wrongs of the past, making the care system safe and empowering communities and whānau. 

The final report and recommendations have been informed by survivors’ experiences.  

The Survivor Experiences Services, independent of the Royal Commission, has been organising survivors to attend Parliament for the tabling. Spaces have now reached capacity, so the service is encouraging people to watch the tabling on Parliament TV or https://ondemand.parliament.nz. The service can be contacted on engagement@survivorexperiences.govt.nz or call 0800 456 090.

Survivor Experiences Service – information provided by the Survivor Experiences Service 

The Survivor Experiences Service is for survivors of abuse in care and is also open to hearing the experiences of survivors’ whānau. It aims to provide a safe, supportive, confidential place where people can share their experiences with someone who understands abuse in care and its impact for survivors and whānau.

The Survivor Experience Service is separate to and independent of the Royal Commission.

With the Royal Commission’s contact centre closing on 2 August, the Survivor Experiences Service will become a port of call for survivors to share their experiences.  

To learn more about the Survivor Experiences Service, visit its website. 

Upcoming He Kura Toiora exhibition – information provided by Te Roopū Toiora 

He Kura Toiora is an exhibition of healing for survivors of abuse in care. It was created by Te Roopū Toiora, a national roopū for survivors of abuse in State and faith-based care. 

The exhibition will feature visual and performing arts, capturing survivors’ narratives and experiences. To mark the release of the Royal Commission’s final report, Te Roopū Toiora wants the exhibition to empower survivors through art and raise public awareness about survivors’ experiences. It is a whanau-centred, and alcohol and drugs-free event.

Dates and times 
Friday 2 August | 11am – 5pm  
Saturday 3 August | 9am – 5pm  
Sunday 4 August | 9am – 5pm  
 
Venue 
Te Auaha Gallery | NZ Institute of Creativity Gallery, 65 Dixon Street, Wellington  

The gallery will feature survivor artists Kriddles, Karah Mackie, Lizzi Yates and The Secret Keeper by Catherine Daniels. 

Schedule 

Friday 2 August | 6.30pm:  
An evening of spoken word featuring Te Pare Meihana, Hanz Freller, Trevichka Eaglehorse, along with other survivor poets. 

Saturday 3 August | 6.30pm:
A night of waiata and kanikani with Fa'amoana Luafutu, Lusi Faiva, Margaret and Piki-Te-Maramatanga Doctor

Sunday 4 August | 6.30pm:
Screening of award-winning documentary, A Boy Called Piano, and Q&A with Fa'amoana Luafutu. 

Help and support services

Survivors who were registered with the Royal Commission can reach out to our Contact and Support Centre if you want to discuss any questions or well-being support options.

• You can call us on 0800 222 727 or email us at contact@abuseincare.org.nz.
• Call us from Australia on free phone 1800 875 745.
• Write to us at PO Box 10071, Wellington 6140.
• Visit our website www.abuseincare.org.nz.

If you are worried about your or someone else's mental health, the best place to get help is your GP or local mental health provider. However, if you or someone else is in danger or endangering others, call police immediately on 111. Or if you need to talk to someone else:

• 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.
• HELP 0800 623 1700 preventing sexual abuse and supporting survivors 24/7.
• Lifeline 0800 543 354 (0800 LIFELINE) or free text 4357 (HELP)
• Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse Aotearoa New Zealand Support services for male survivors of sexual abuse. Refer to website for the support organisation nearest to you.
• 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.
• Shine 0508 744 633, free to call from any phone in NZ, and taking calls 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Call for confidential support, information, advice and referrals.
• Skylight, 0800 299 100 for trauma, loss and grief; 9am–5pm weekdays.
• SNAP - Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests Providing peer support for women and men wounded by religious and institutional authorities
• 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.
• Wellington HELP 0800 FOR HELP supports anyone and everyone who has been impacted by sexual violence. Call anytime.
• Youthline 0800 376 633, free text 234 or email talk@youthline.co.nz or online chat