About the hearing 

The Inquiry heard from Māori survivors and their whānau from throughout the motu who shared their lived experiences of being abused in care, and the ongoing impacts the tūkino, or abuse, has on them and their whānau. 

The hearing explored the systemic abuse of Māori by State and faith-based care institutions. It also investigated why tamariki Māori and Māori vulnerable adults were and continued to be over-represented in care and the ongoing impacts that Māori experience as a result of being abused. 

The Inquiry heard evidence from rangatahi survivors and multiple generations of whānau, and Māori survivors and advocates who provided their vision of what a transformed care system should look like for Māori. 

The hearing investigated: 

• How Māori in care were abused by the institutions meant to protect them. This included physical, sexual, psychological and racist abuse. Māori who were Deaf, disabled, LGBTQIA+ or of Pacific descent were disproportionately affected by care systems that failed them. 
• Why Māori survivors who were abused in State and faith-based care are more likely to be in contact with the care and justice systems as adults, and the links between survivors and gangs. 
• Why tamariki Māori were and continue to be over-represented in care and the ongoing impacts Māori experience as a result of being abused. 

The hearing focussed on three main themes: 

• Racism in care 
• Intergenerational trauma 
• Contemporary experiences of abuse in care. 

Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei gifted the name of the hearing – Tō muri te pō roa, tērā a Pokopoko Whiti-te-rā. It refers to hope and healing for survivors of abuse in care, after years of darkness.