ableism

Attitudes and behaviours society uses that privilege non-disabled people. This includes when negative assumptions are made about the skills, capacities and interests of disabled people, and when their lived experiences are denied.

co-occurring abuse

When a person experiences an abusive or neglectful situation with multiple harms occurring at the same time.

cumulative abuse

Harmful effects of abuse accumulating over time. Each instance of abuse adds to the overall impact, increasing its severity.

disablism

Conscious, direct discrimination against people who are disabled, based on their disability.

fono

The word fono is used in different Pacific countries. In general, the term means councils or meetings great and small. The term can apply to national assemblies or any type of meeting between people.

gang whānau

A term used by the Inquiry to reflect that many survivors found a sense of family and community in gangs

intersectionality, intersectional identity

Intersectionality looks at the intersecting or different parts of a person’s identity (such as their ethnicity, culture, gender, disability, background, experiences) and how those aspects interact in shaping their experiences.

Inquiry period

The time period of the Inquiry’s investigation: 1 January 1950 to 31 December 1999.

mental distress 

A mental or emotional state that causes disruption to daily life and that can vary in length of time and intensity. People experiencing mental distress includes those who are seriously upset, people who are reacting normally to a stressful situation, and people with mental illness (whether medically diagnosed or not).

MVPFAFF+

Diverse sexualities, gender expressions and roles across Pacific cultures. It stands for māhū, vakasalewalewa, palopa, fa’afafine, akava’ine, fakaleiti (leiti), fakafifine.

pastoral care

In this report the term pastoral care includes providing spiritual, social, emotional and material support or guidance for individuals or communities. It can also include visiting, counselling, religious counsel (including bible studies or other faith activities), or otherwise helping people in the Church community.

An individual in a pastoral care relationship will be in the care of a faith-based institution when a person with authority or power given by a faith-based institution develops a trust-based relationship with that individual through the provision of pastoral care and related to the faith-based institution’s work or enabled by the authority or power given by the institution.

psychopaedic

Outdated Aotearoa New Zealand term to distinguish people with a learning disability from people experiencing mental distress.

Takatāpui

A traditional reo Māori word meaning ‘intimate friend of the same sex’. It includes all Māori who identify with diverse sexualities, gender expressions and/or variations of sex characteristics.

talanoa

A Pacific Peoples term meaning open and inclusive dialogue or conversation without a set format or structure.

tāngata Turi Māori

A reo Māori term for a person who is Māori and Deaf and may include those who are hard of hearing.

tāngata whaikaha Māori

A reo Māori term for disabled people. It reflects a definition of people who are determined to do well.

tāngata whaiora Māori

A reo Māori term for people who are seeking health.  It can also be used to refer to a person receiving assessment and treatment in mental health, addiction and intellectual disability services. 

Terms of Reference

The legal document setting out the Inquiry’s purpose and scope as set by the government, and the matters that are out of scope.