State Institutional Response Hearing 15 to 26 August 2022
About the hearing
The Inquiry examined the responses of State agencies to the abuse and neglect of children, young people and vulnerable adults of thousands of children, young people and vulnerable adults in their care.
Witnesses included chief executives and other senior people across the following agencies:
- Oranga Tamariki
- Ministry of Social Development
- Ministry of Health
- Whaikaha – Ministry of Disabled People.
- Ministry of Education
- Education Review Office
- Teaching Council
- Police
- Corrections
- Te Puni Kōkiri
- Ministry for Pacific Peoples
- Children’s Commissioner
- Ombudsman
- Te Kawa Mataaho – Public Service Commission
During the hearing, witnesses from Crown agencies were questioned on failures by the State to prevent and respond to abuse in State and faith-based care, including:
- how care systems were monitored
- the handling of complaints
- the nature and extent of physical, psychological, sexual abuse and neglect
- to what extent their care systems had met the needs of Māori, Pacific and Disabled people and people with mental health conditions.
They also responded to questions around the implementation of recommendations from previous inquiries and reports, and whether they had met their obligations under te Tiriti o Waitangi.
This hearing was different to other Inquiry hearings because there weren’t survivor witnesses. State agencies were the only witnesses.
State agencies are the organisations that help look after New Zealanders and are responsible for people in care. The organisations included people like the Police, Corrections and the Ministry of Health.
The state’s witnesses talked about:
- What they have done to make things better for people in care now.
- How complaints were listened to and handled.
- How people were looked after in care.
The Inquiry asked the witnesses about documents or pieces of evidence, but these documents and evidence weren’t shown on the screen. This hearing has many more documents than previous hearings. Because of the large number of documents and the sensitive personal information in those documents, they weren’t shown publicly. Instead of showing the evidence, the Inquiry or Crown counsel explained the evidence.
***Distressing content warning***
This material contains explicit descriptions of tūkino – abuse, harm and trauma – and may evoke strong negative, emotional responses for readers. Although this response may be unpleasant and difficult to tolerate, it is also appropriate to feel upset. Respect others’ truths, breathe deeply, take care of your spirit and be gentle with your heart. However, if you or someone in your close circle needs support, please contact your healthcare or wellbeing provider.
Hearing schedule
Outlined below are the witnesses that spoke at the hearing. Witness statements, briefs of evidence, video footage and transcripts of their testimony can be accessed through the links below.
Day 1: 15 August 2022
- Opening statements
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- Welcome and Opening Remarks of the Commissioners
- Kerryn Beaton - Counsel Assisting the Royal Commission
- SAGE (Survivor Advisory Group of Experts)
- Rachael Schmidt-McCleave - Counsel Assisting the Crown
- Counsel Assisting the Office of the Children's Commissioner
- Mr David Stone for the New Zealand State Abuse Survivors Charitable Trust
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- Ministry of Social Development – Te Manatū Whakahiato Ora
Day 2: 16 August 2022
- New Zealand Police – Ngā Pirihimana o Aotearoa
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- Andrew Coster
- Tania Kura
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Day 3: 17 August 2022
- Ministry of Health – Manatū Hauora
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- Dr Diana Sarfati
- Dr John Crawshaw
- Dr Arran Culver
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- Whaikaha – Ministry of Disabled People
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- Geraldine Woods
- Amanda Bleckmann
- Hannah Kerr
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Day 4: 18 August 2022
- Ministry of Education – Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga
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- Iona Holsted
- David Wales
- Rachel Vink
- Yvette Guttenbeil Po’uhila
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Day 5: 19 August 2022
- Education Review Office – Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga
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- Nicholas Pole
- Lynda Pura-Watson
- Jane Lee
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- Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand
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- Robyn Baker
- Lesley Hoskin
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Day 6-8: 22-24 August 2022
- Oranga Tamariki – Ministry for Children
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- Chappie Te Kani
- Peter Whitcombe
- Nicolette Dickson
- Frana Chase
- Aiolupotea Sina Aiolupotea-Aiono
- Claudia Boyles
- Paula Attrill
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Day 9: 25 August 2022
- Department of Corrections – Ara Poutama Aotearoa
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- Jeremy Lightfoot
- Juanita Ryan
- Neil Beales
- Jessica Borg
- Rebecca Barson
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- Office of the Children’s Commissioner – Manaakatia a Tātou Tamariki
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- Judge Eivers
- Glenis Phillip-Barbara
- Fiona Cassidy
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Day 10: 26 August 2022
- Ombudsman New Zealand – Te Tari o te Kaitiaki Mana Tangata
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- Peter Boshier
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- Ministry for Pacific Peoples
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- Laulu Mac Leauanae
- Aiono Matthew Aileone
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- Te Puni Kokiri - Ministry of Māori Development
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- Dave Samuels
- Grace Smith
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- Te Kawa Mataaho – Public Service Commission
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- Peter Hughes
- Heather Baggott
- Hannah Cameron
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