Other values that have guided our approach to puretumu torowhānui include universal values of fairness, transparency and accountability.

To be fair and equitable, every person abused in care must have a fair opportunity to obtain puretumu torowhānui. This means it must be accessible no matter the circumstances of the person. To achieve this, we need to actively counter the social conditions that create particular barriers for some people in seeking puretumu torowhānui, including ableist structures and attitudes. Fairness also means that people receive puretumu torowhānui that is consistent between person to person and from year to year, while also having the flexibility to respond to individuals’ needs, including their cultural needs.

Decision-makers and processes should be transparent, that is open and accountable to the people affected by decisions. This ensures fairness, and allows people to trust the decision making.

We are also guided by the need to be trauma-informed in responding to survivors of traumatic experiences such as abuse in care. This requires us to recognise all the impacts of trauma on way survivors experience the world, and to respect the autonomy of survivors, including in choosing their own path to restoration.

Next: What it means to be trauma-informed