22. Part 3 of the Inquiry’s final report, Whanaketia – Through pain and trauma, from darkness to light, sets out the circumstances that led to children, young people and adults entering State and faith-based care during the Inquiry period.

23. The State’s policy of institutionalisation of disabled people, which was influenced by the eugenics movement and societal attitudes that saw people with impairments as ‘abnormal’ and less valuable than ‘normal people,’ [3] created a pathway into psychopaedic and psychiatric hospitals and special schools. The lack of alternative supports for the parents and caregivers of disabled people was another pathway into care settings. For Māori and Pacific families, the lack of alternative supports was exacerbated by the lack of culturally appropriate supports in general.

24. Chapter 3 of the Inquiry's Kimberley Centre case study, Out of Sight, Out of Mind, sets out the circumstances that led to disabled people being placed at the Kimberley Centre om Taitoko, Levin.

25. Part 3, Chapter 4 of the Inquiry’s final report, Whanaketia – Through pain and trauma, from darkness to light, describes the circumstances that led disabled people into care, including:

• the State’s policy of institutionalisation
• advice or pressure from authorities, including medical professionals
• lack of alternative care and support options for families, including culturally appropriate supports for tāngata whaikaha Māori and their whānau, and Pacific disabled people and their kainga.

26. Part 3, Chapter 4 of the Inquiry’s final report, Whanaketia – Through pain and trauma, from darkness to light, also explains that many disabled people have experienced lifelong involvement with State care and support services. It describes how disabled people continued to experience abuse, neglect and discrimination after the shift to community-based care.

Footnotes

[3] Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care, He Purapura Ora, he Māra Tipu: From redress to Puretumu Torowhānui, Volume 1 (2021, page 40)