assimilation

Government policy referring to the process through which individuals and groups of a minority culture are made to change their attitudes, beliefs, practices and ways of life and must acquire the habits, attitudes and ways of life of the majority culture.  

borstal

Institutions for young offenders (aged 15 to 21), aimed at reforming behaviour and preventing offenders from becoming “habitual criminals”. Borstals ran from 1924 until 1981 under the Prevention of Crime Act (Borstal Institutions Establishment) Act 1924.

cultural racism

Negative attitudes to the culture and lifestyles of indigenous and minority culture.

deinstitutionalisation

The process of closing institutions that housed disabled people based on government policy.

disablism

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

eugenics

A pseudo-science that aims to improve the genetic quality of the human population. This included altering gene pools by excluding people and groups deemed to be ‘inferior’.

institutional racism  

Discriminatory policies and practices of institutions that routinely produce racially inequitable outcomes for certain groups based on race, ethnicity, skin colour or national origin, and advantage other groups for the same reasons.  

Inquiry period

The time period of the Inquiry’s investigation: 1 January 1950–31 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.

oralism

The system of teaching deaf people to communicate by the use of speech and lip-reading rather than sign language.

psychopaedic

Outdated Aotearoa New Zealand term to distinguish people with a learning disability from people experiencing mental distress.

tāngata whaikaha Māori

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

whānau hauā Māori

A reo Māori term for a person with disabilities, which reflects te ao Māori perspectives and collective orientation.

whāngai

A reo Māori term for Māori customary adoption or fostering of children or young people.