Information about the public hearing – faith institutions response to abuse in care

Religious and faith-based institutions are organisations that have religious values and beliefs and support groups of people that believe in their same values.

At this hearing, faith-based institutions answered questions about why they were not able to look after people who were in their care and reply to comments from survivors about the neglect and abuse they received.

Before the hearing, faith-based institutions were asked to write answers to the following questions: 

  • How were people looked after and protected in care?
  • How did racism, ableism and bias affected how they looked after people?
  • How did they follow te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi)?
  • How were the needs of different communities met, including:
    • Māori and Tangata Whaikaha Māori
    • Pacific people
    • Disabled and Deaf people
    • People experiencing mental distress

People who answered questions from the faith-based institutions were people in leadership positions.

The following faith-based institutions appeared at the hearing:

  • Gloriavale Christian Community
  • St Patrick’s College, Silverstream
  • Dioceses and congregations of the Catholic Church of Aotearoa New Zealand
  • Wesley College
  • Methodist Church of New Zealand
  • Presbyterian Support Central
  • Presbyterian Support Otago
  • Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand
  • Dilworth School
  • Anglican Church in Aotearoa New Zealand

This was the Inquiry’s last public hearing.

Hearing schedule

Outlined below are the faith-based organisations and their representatives that were questioned at the hearing. Witness statements, briefs of evidence and transcripts of their testimony can be accessed through the links below. 

 Day 1: 13 October 2022 

Day 2: 17 October 2022 

  • St Patrick's College Silverstream 
      • Fr Tim Duckworth – Society of Mary 
      • Rob Ferreira – Rector 
      • Dr Clare Couch – Chairperson, Board of Proprietors 
      • Sean Mahony – Chairperson, School Board 
  • The Dioceses and Congregations of the Catholic Church of Aotearoa New Zealand
      • Bishop Patrick Dunn – Bishop Emeritus of Auckland 
      • Bishop Steve Lowe – Bishop of Auckland and Apostolic Administrator of Diocese of Hamilton 
      • Cardinal John Dew – Archbishop of Wellington, Apostolic Administrator of Diocese of Palmerston North and President New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference 
      • Dr Paul Flanagan – Member of the National Safeguarding and Professional Standards Committee 
      • Sister Sue France – Congregational Leader, Nga Whaea Atawhai O Aotearoa Sisters of Mercy New Zealand.  

Day 3: 18 October 2022 

  • The Methodist Church of New Zealand and Wesley College
      • Reverend Tara Tautari – General Secretary of the Methodist Church of New Zealand 
      • Reverend Ian Faulkner – former Principal of Wesley College 
      • Chris Johnston – General Secretary of Wesley College Trust Board 
      • Etuini Talakai – Vice President of the Methodist Church of New Zealand 
      • Dr Brian Evans – Principal Wesley College 
      • Sekope Kepu – Wesley College Old Boy 

Day 4: 19 October 2022 

Day 5: 20 October 2022 

  • Dilworth School and Trust Board
      • Derek Firth – former Trustee and Chairman of the Dilworth Trust Board  
      • Aaron Snodgrass – Trustee and Chairman of the Dilworth Trust Board 
      • Dan Reiddiex – Dilworth School Headmaster 
  • Anglican Church in Aotearoa New Zealand
      • Right Reverend Ross Bay – Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Auckland  
      • Most Reverend Donald Tamihere – Archbishop of Aotearoa  
      • Most Reverend Philip Richardson – Archbishop of New Zealand  
  • Closing statements begin

Day 6: 21 October 2022 

  • Closing statements continue
      • Gloriavale Christian Community  
      • Methodist Church of New Zealand 
      • Dilworth Action Group 
      • SNAP 
      • Gloriavale Leavers’ Trust 
      • Survivor kōrero 

Minute 28

This Minute sets out schedule amendments for the Royal Commission of Inquiry’s upcoming public hearing into the institutional responses of Faith-Based institutions to abuse in Faith-based care (the hearing). It should be read together with Minute 25 dated 2 September 2022 and Minute 27 dated 5 October 2022.

Minute 27

This Minute sets out directions for the Royal Commission of Inquiry’s upcoming public hearing into the institutional responses of Faith-Based institutions to abuse in Faith-based care (the hearing). It should be read together with Minute 25 dated 2 September 2022.

Minute 25

This Minute sets out directions on the Royal Commission of Inquiry’s upcoming public hearing into the institutional responses of Faith-Based institutions to abuse in Faith-based care (the hearing). The hearing will be chaired by the Chair of the Royal Commission Coral Shaw and all Commissioners will attend.

Scope of the Hearings into Institutional Responses to Abuse in Care

The Inquiry’s Institutional Response hearings will examine the institutional responses of selected State and Faith-based organisations (“the organisations”) to matters set out in the Inquiry’s Terms of Reference. At the hearings the Inquiry will hear evidence, ask questions and put propositions to these organisations in respect of failures to provide adequate care and to prevent and respond to abuse in care between 1950 to 1999 and, where appropriate, from 1999 until present day. This includes but is not limited to structural, systemic, or practical factors that caused or contributed to the abuse of individuals in State care and in the care of faith-based institutions.

Media Release 1

The responses of faith institutions to abuse and neglect of children, young people and vulnerable adults in their care will be examined by the Royal Commission of Inquiry during a public hearing from 13 to 20 October.

Media Release 2

Schedule change - Gloriavale and Dilworth leaders among those to be questioned in upcoming abuse in care public hearing