740. This Inquiry was the first of its kind to comprehensively examine Aotearoa New Zealand’s care systems, revealing pervasive and systemic abuse and neglect in State and faith-based care during the Inquiry period. The widespread harm the Inquiry has documented has caused long-term trauma to survivors, affecting every aspect of their lives. This harm was not due to a few isolated incidents but was systemic and deeply embedded across all levels of care.

741. In this report, the Inquiry has set out the urgency and importance of the change needed to address the harm, stop abuse and neglect in care and to reach he Māra Tipu. The findings call for a complete overhaul of Aotearoa New Zealand’s State and faith-based care systems in social welfare, disability, mental health, education, and transitional and law enforcement and pastoral care settings. The ultimate goal is to ensure that no individual experiences abuse or neglect and that families receive the necessary support to lead fulfilling lives.

742. Full implementation of the Inquiry’s recommendations is crucial for improving the lives of survivors and all New Zealanders. The recommendations comprise mutually reinforcing strands woven together into a kākahu (cloak) to right the wrongs of the past and protect against abuse and neglect in care in the future. These recommendations cannot be selectively implemented – missing out any of the strands will create gaps and points of weakness in the kākahu which mean the cycles of abuse and neglect in care will continue. Abuse and neglect in care does not just harm individuals – it imposes a significant burden on whānau, kainga and society. The long-term impacts include poor health outcomes, welfare dependency, and increased crime rates. In Part 7 the Inquiry discussed adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Having multiple adverse childhood experiences is linked with poor outcomes in adulthood.[383] In the United States, it has been calculated that eradicating multiple adverse childhood experiences would reduce “the overall rate of depression by more than half, alcoholism by two thirds, and suicide, IV drug use and domestic violence by three quarters…it would also vastly decrease the need for incarceration”.[384]

743. Imagine an Aotearoa New Zealand where every individual, regardless of age or circumstance, can live without fear of mistreatment, where our reality reflects our ideals, where we have made inroads on some of our most intractable social issues across crime, health and poverty, and where the annual cost of alcoholism, mental distress and domestic violence alone, which collectively cost Aotearoa New Zealand over $23 billion a year,[385] have been more than halved. What could our country be then? What potential might we realise?

744. The Inquiry has completed its investigations, but the work is just beginning. The State and faith-based entities, survivors, activists, academics, journalists, whānau, kainga (family), collectives and local communities will need to ensure the Inquiry’s work is taken forward and the cycle of abuse and neglect in care is transformed into healing and a new era of wellbeing.

“Our community is one that has been forgotten and ignored, time and time again. Kia tūpato, turn your ears to our tuākana, hold our truths in your hearts as you move towards the future, hold our truths in your hearts as you provide manaaki for our tamariki. Kia tika, kia pono. Do not let this taonga fall away.

To our Teina in this space, our rangatahi, tamariki, pēpi: we do this mahi with you in our hearts. Any time a young person in our community is actively harmed by the system, the mamae is felt by all of us across the motu who have been touched by care, we all grieve with you. We take the baton from our tuākana, to continue to ensure that this space is safer than it is today. Wherever you are reading this from, we are sending our love to you. Know that we hear you, we see you, we celebrate you. We do this mahi in the hopes that one day there will no longer be a need for mahi like this.”

Te Rōpū Kaitiaki mō ngā Teina e Haere Ake Nei