We are pleased to present Tāwharautia: Pūrongo o te Wā – the interim report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State Care and in the Care of Faith-based Institutions.

This reports on the inquiry’s work since the terms of reference were announced by the Government in November 2018, and describes the key themes and common issues from the experiences shared with us by victims/survivors so far.

The name Tāwharautia is a word that implies providing shelter or care whether physical, emotional or spiritual. The word has broad application. Kia tāwharautia a Mātaatua is a well-known whakataukī urging multiple iwi to unite under a common cause to redress wrongs and to create a tatau pounamu, an enduring peace. To use the words of Sir Te Ahorangi Timoti Karetu “it is the very absence of the essence of tāwharautia that causes our children to experience abuse.” The name will be used across all reports of this inquiry. It is used with approval from te reo experts Te Ahorangi Timoti Karetu, Pou Temara and (the late) Wharehuia Milroy, and we are very grateful for their assistance in selecting it.

Volume one summarises what we have been doing, how we have been approaching our work, and what we have been learning. It draws on information gathered and evidence received through private sessions with hundreds of survivors, research and investigations and public hearings, including our contextual hearing held in October 2019, and our hearing into State redress processes held between September and November 2020. It also sets out what we need to do from here to satisfy the terms of reference.

Volume two is devoted to survivor voices – an analysis of 50 private session transcripts covering several care settings. It shares survivors’ own words about their experiences and draws out themes we have been hearing. We acknowledge the work of Synergia in preparing this part of the report, with the assistance of Dr Anna Duncan and Dr Sarah Carne of the inquiry.

We have received the benefit of invaluable insights from many people and groups through the course of the inquiry and thank them all for their contributions. But we must also specifically acknowledge the contribution of a few groups.

First, we are grateful for, and admire the bravery of, survivors who have come forward to share their experiences of abuse in care. Without them this work would not be possible, and their experiences, along with the experiences of others who are not able to come forward, would remain unknown. We give particular acknowledgement to those survivors who have passed on.

We also acknowledge and thank the members of our survivor advisory group, Kararaina Beckett, Sally Champion, Jim Goodwin, Anne Stephenson, Keith Wiffin, Gary Williams, as well as the members of our Māori advisory group Te Taumata – Prue Kapua (chair), Neville Baker, Sharon Hawke, Liz Mellish and Matthew Tukaki. The advice and support of the members of both groups continue to be invaluable as we go about our work. We look forward to continuing to work together.

Finally, we would also like to acknowledge the passionate team of people working for the inquiry.

Judge Coral Shaw – chair

Coral Shaw was appointed chair of the inquiry in November 2019 following the resignation of Sir Anand Satyanand. Coral served as a District Court judge in West Auckland where she introduced a fast-track system for family violence cases. Together with Hoani Waititi Marae, she established a marae-based programme of restorative justice. Coral later served as a judge of the New Zealand Employment Court and United Nations Dispute Tribunal.

Ali’imuamua Sandra Alofivae

Sandra Alofivae has practised as a lawyer in Auckland for the past 20 years representing children, young people and their families. She grew up in Māngere and has strong ties to the local community through her work in the voluntary sector. In 2016, Sandra was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to the Pacific community and to youth.

Dr Andrew Erueti

Andrew Erueti from Ngā Ruahinerangi and Ngāti Ruanui (Taranaki) and Te Āti Haunui-a-Pāpārangi (Whanganui) is Associate Professor at the University of Auckland Faculty of Law. He is a former Fulbright scholar and has published extensively in New Zealand and overseas on indigenous rights and human rights in international law. Between 2008 and 2012, he was Amnesty International’s lead adviser on indigenous rights based in London and the United Nations office in Geneva.

Paul Gibson

Paul Gibson was the Disability Rights Commissioner at the Human Rights Commission from 2011 to 2017. The work he led includes historic State abuse, accessibility, education, New Zealand Sign Language, Down syndrome, antenatal screening, neuro-disability and mental distress/
psycho-social disability. Paul is a former president of the Disabled Persons Assembly. Breaking down barriers for disabled communities has been a life-long priority for Paul, informed by his own situation as a blind person.

Julia Steenson

Julia Steenson is of Ngāti Whātua and Waikato descent and joined the inquiry in August 2020. Julia has extensive governance experience and is currently an elected representative on the Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Trust Board and, since 2017, a director of Whai Rawa Limited. Having previously established the general counsel role for Te Wānanga o Aotearoa in 2012, she presented on indigenous rights and intellectual property at the World Indigenous People Conference on Education in Toronto in 2017 and also presented on access to legal services and digital technology at Te Hunga Rōia Māori o Aotearoa in 2018, and has launched a tech start-up to improve access to legal services.