Acknowledgments
I. All survivors, all authorities, all voices from the four winds, we acknowledge and greet you all. We also extend our warm regards to manawhenua Ngāi Tūāhuriri, and Kāi Tahu.
II. The title of this report into abuse and neglect by Catholic Hospitaller Order of the Brothers of St John of God, “Stolen lives, Marked souls” was gifted to us by some of the survivors of Marylands School, Hebron Trust and St Joseph’s Orphanage. The title reflects the losses suffered by survivors a result of what they experienced at the hands of the brothers at these institutions. We thank you for your koha (gift).
III. We are grateful to the many survivors who courageously shared with us their accounts of the tūkino (abuse, harm and neglect) they suffered and the enduring impact this has had on their lives and those of their whānau. For some, this was the first time they had disclosed their experiences. They did this with strength and resolve in the hope that such tūkino is never allowed to happen again in faith-based institutions in Aotearoa New Zealand. We recognise that reliving their experiences for the Inquiry took a significant toll on their personal wellbeing. We thank you for coming forward.
IV. To those survivors of Marylands School, Hebron Trust or St Joseph’s Orphanage who were not able to come forward in person for whatever reasons, including because of communications barriers, we send our aroha and understanding.
V. Tragically, many who experienced abuse and neglect at these institutions are no longer with us. They are not forgotten. We acknowledge them and their whānau, especially those who spoke on behalf of their loved ones who have now passed away.
VI. Ken Clearwater and Male Survivors Aotearoa tenaciously supported survivors who attended Marylands School, Hebron Trust and St Joseph’s Orphanage, and their whānau, before and during this Inquiry. We acknowledge this advocacy and the personal support they gave survivors who came forward to the Inquiry.
VII. We acknowledge the ‘whistleblower’ witnesses: a former St John of God brother, a Marylands caregiver, a programme coordinator and later promoted to a supervisor at Hebron Trust and Dr Michelle Mulvihill who worked for the St John of God brothers during the 1990s and gave evidence at the Inquiry’s public hearing. The evidence of these witnesses has strengthened the findings of this report.
VIII. We acknowledge survivor Darryl Smith who, in his lifelong quest for justice, self-published a number of accounts of the abuse and neglect he suffered at the hands of the St John of God Brothers both here in Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia.
IX. We acknowledge Cooper Legal for their work with survivors to assist them to seek justice for the tūkino they suffered from the Catholic Church, St John of God Order, NZ Police, and Social Development and Education State agencies.
X. We acknowledge all survivor networks and advocates, including the Network of Survivors of Abuse in Faith-based Care; SNAP Aotearoa New Zealand (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests); and the National Association of Adult Survivors of Child Abuse.
XI. We are grateful to the advice we received from our Pou Tikanga and for the karakia gifted to the Inquiry that frame this report. This is consistent with tikanga Māori and ensures that the kaupapa discussed is held safely and in an appropriate manner.
XII. We acknowledge the Inquiry’s advisory and reference groups, including SAGE and Te Taumata, as they assisted us with their kōrerorero, advice and comments.
XIII. We thank all of those in the Inquiry who have supported us to produce this report: our secretariat, including investigations, solicitors, policy and research, communications, engagement, survivor accounts, business support services, and governance and assurance personnel. We also thank counsel assisting the Inquiry and legal assistance panel members. You have all worked tirelessly to support survivors and to bring together the information and evidence that has enabled us to reveal for the first time the full picture of what happened at Marylands School and Hebron Trust and why.
