Executive summary

1. Hokio Beach School (Hokio School) and Kohitere Boys’ Training Centre (Kohitere Centre) were long-stay social welfare institutions in the Taitoko Levin area from the early 1900s up until the late 1980s. Boys came from throughout Aotearoa New Zealand and were often far from family and whānau. These children and young people were seen by the State as “too difficult … to remain in the community.”[1] Yet it was the care system that was punitive and abusive. 

2. Hokio School and Kohitere Centre were not places of care. The State removed children and young people from their families and sent them to institutions where abuse of power, violence and racism were normalised. Survivors were brutally punished and blamed for behaviours often caused by trauma, learning difficulties, disabilities and by the very abuse they endured.

3. The ‘no-narking’ culture and use of the kingpin system by staff to maintain control contributed to a culture of extreme violence. A lack of supervision, staff with military backgrounds, and inadequate vetting and recruitment processes all played a part in the abuse. Survivors were often seen as manipulative or lying and both survivors and staff were silenced and complaints of abuse covered up.

4. Some survivors described prison as better than Hokio School and Kohitere Centre.[2] They were worse off when leaving than when they arrived. Some survivors told the Inquiry the only thing they learned was how to be better criminals.[3] The abuse they experienced has led to spiritual, physical, psychological, relationship, and inter-generational impacts. Some survivors have spent most of their lives in jail or sought connection and support through gang membership with others who share similar experiences of abuse in care.

5. Abuse in Hokio School and Kohitere Centre was systemic. From the top down there was little oversight, or accountability. Not for the State, the institutions, the staff, nor for perpetrators. Survivors’ lives were profoundly altered by their time at Hokio School and Kohitere Centre. Samoan survivor David Williams (aka John Williams) told the Inquiry:

“The things that happened in those places, I don’t really know how us survivors can let go of it. You can’t, it's there for life until you go to your grave.”[4]

Cauldron of Violence

The name of this case study was gifted by survivors put in boys homes and who subsequently went from care to custody.

Survivor acknowledgement

The Royal Commission thanks all survivors who so bravely shared their experiences of abuse and neglect in care. We also acknowledge those who were not able to come forward, for whatever reason, we send you aroha and understanding. Our hope is that this case study shines a light on your experiences and echoes your calls to ensure such atrocities are never allowed to happen again in Aotearoa.