5 October 2022

The responses of faith institutions to abuse and neglect of children, young people and vulnerable adults in their care will be examined by the Royal Commission of Inquiry during a public hearing from 13 to 20 October.

The Royal Commission will question the following faith institutions about their failures to provide adequate care and respond to allegations of abuse and neglect: 

• • Gloriavale Christian Community
  • Dilworth School
  • Anglican Church in Aotearoa New Zealand
  • St Patrick’s College, Silverstream
  • Dioceses and congregations of the Catholic Church of Aotearoa New Zealand
  • Wesley College
  • Methodist Church of New Zealand
  • Presbyterian Support Central
  • Presbyterian Support Otago 
  • Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand

Multiple witnesses from each faith organisation have been called to give evidence. A full hearing schedule and witness list are below.

Faith-based organisations will respond to questions around how care systems were monitored; the handling of complaints; the nature and extent of physical, psychological, sexual abuse and neglect; and to what extent their care met the needs of Māori, Pacific and Disabled people and people with mental health conditions.

This is the Royal Commission’s final public hearing. At its completion, the Royal Commission will have held 133 days of public hearings.

Evidence from our public hearings, investigations, survivor and witness accounts, research and policy review, hui, wānanga, fono and community engagement will inform the final report due to the Governor General in June 2023.

The six-day Faith-based Institutional Response public hearing will take place from 13-20 October 2022 at Level 2, 414 Khyber Pass Road, Newmarket, Tāmaki Makaurau. It will be open to the public and live streamed on the Royal Commission’s website.

About the Inquiry   

The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry is investigating the abuse of children, young people and vulnerable adults within State and faith-based institutions in Aotearoa New Zealand between 1950-1999. We can also learn from the experiences of survivors who have been in care after 1999. The Royal Commission will deliver its final report in June 2023.   

For Media   

To report on a Royal Commission public hearing, you must adhere to its Media Guidelines. This includes applying to report at the public hearing by 12 October using the form in the guidelines and emailing it to media@abuseincare.org.nz. Media can report in person or from the daily livestream on the Royal Commission website.  

Media enquiries: 027 298 2094; media@abuseincare.org.nz  

Hearing schedule and witness list

Thursday 13 October

Morning

Opening statements of core participants and individuals/groups granted leave to appear (excluding faith-based institutions who will give opening statements on the day of their evidence)

Afternoon

GLORIAVALE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY

• Howard Temple – Overseeing Shepherd of Gloriavale Christian Community
• Rachel Stedfast – Acting Principal of Gloriavale Christian School 

Friday 14 October

Morning

ANGLICAN EDUCATION - DILWORTH SCHOOL 

• Dr Murray Wilton – former Dilworth Headmaster
• Derek Firth – former Trustee and Chairman of the Dilworth Trust Board 
• Aaron Snodgrass – Trustee and Chairman of the Dilworth Trust Board

Afternoon

ANGLICAN CHURCH IN AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND  

• Right Reverend Ross Bay – Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Auckland 
• Most Reverend Donald Tamihere – Archbishop of Aotearoa 
• Most Reverend Philip Richardson – Archbishop of New Zealand 

Monday 17 October

Morning

CATHOLIC EDUCATION - ST PATRICK’S COLLEGE SILVERSTREAM 

• Fr Thige O’Leary - Society of Mary
• Clare Couch – Chairperson, Board of Proprietors
• Sean Mahony – Chairperson, School Board
• Rob Ferreira – Rector

Afternoon

THE DIOCESES AND CONGREGATIONS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH OF AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND 

• Cardinal John Dew – Archbishop of Wellington, Apostolic Administrator of Diocese of Palmerston North and President New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference
• Dr Paul Flanagan, Member of the National Safeguarding and Professional Standards Committee
• Bishop Steve Lowe – Bishop of Auckland and Apostolic Administrator of Diocese of Hamilton
• Bishop Patrick Dunn – Bishop Emeritus of Auckland
• Sister Sue France – Congregational Leader, Nga Whaea Atawhai O Aotearoa Sisters of Mercy New Zealand.

Tuesday 18 October

Morning

THE METHODIST CHURCH OF NEW ZEALAND (Contextual) 

• Reverend Tara Tautari – General Secretary of the Methodist Church of New Zealand

Morning and afternoon

THE METHODIST CHURCH OF NEW ZEALAND AND WESLEY COLLEGE 

Panel One 

• Reverend Tara Tautari – General Secretary of the Methodist Church of New Zealand
• Etuini Talakai – Vice President of the Methodist Church of New Zealand
• Chris Johnston – General Secretary of Wesley College Trust Board
• Reverend Ian Faulkner – former Principal of Wesley College

Panel Two 

• Reverend Tara Tautari – General Secretary of the Methodist Church of New Zealand
• Etuini Talakai – Vice President of the Methodist Church of New Zealand
• Dr Brian Evans – Principal Wesley College 

Wednesday 19 October  

Morning

PRESBYTERIAN SUPPORT CENTRAL 

• Muhammad Naseem (Joe) Asghar - Chief Executive Officer of Presbyterian Support Central
• Patrick Waite – former Chief Executive Officer of Presbyterian Support Central

PRESBYTERIAN SUPPORT OTAGO 

• Jo Rowe – Chief Executive Officer of Presbyterian Support Otago 

Afternoon

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND 

• Wayne Matheson - Assembly Executive Secretary of PCANZ

Closing statements of faith-based institutions to begin

Thursday 20 October

Morning

Closing statements of faith-based institutions to continue

Closing statements of core participants and individuals/groups granted leave to appear, including the Survivor Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE)