The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care
The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care (Royal Commission) was established in 2018 to investigate children, young people, and vulnerable adults’ experiences of abuse and neglect in State and non-State care between 1950-1999.
The Report
The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry has released its final report – Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light.
The report is the result of the largest and most complex Royal Commission public inquiry ever held in New Zealand.
The Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha acknowledges the courage of all those who shared their experiences with the Royal Commission.
Disabled people, tāngata whaikaha Māori, Deaf and Turi Māori were a significant focus in the inquiry.
The Ministry is working with our colleagues from across government to understand the report and its recommendations. This is a large report, and it is important that we give it the time it deserves.
This cross-agency work is being overseen by the Crown Response Unit (CRU).
Read Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light.
The report is available on the Royal Commission website.
The Inquiry are working on making a full suite of alternative formats available.
Much of the content presented in the report contains explicit descriptions of tūkino - abuse, harm and trauma - and may raise difficult emotional responses for readers.
Crown Response to the Abuse in Care Inquiry
Find out more about the Government’s response to the Inquiry here:
Support resources, cabinet papers and news updates are available in alternate formats:
- Alternate formats: Support resources and information releases external URL
- Alternate formats: Newsletters external URL
To receive updates on the Government’s response to the Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry, please email contact@abuseinquiryresponse.govt.nz with 'panui' in the subject line and you will be added to their database.
Survivor Experience Service
The Survivor Experiences Service external URL aims to provide a safe, supportive, confidential place where survivors of abuse in care, and their whānau, can share their experiences.
Through the Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry, a number of survivors expressed their need for a service to share their experiences, between the closure of the Royal Commission and the time when a new, independent redress system is established.
The Survivor Experiences Service was designed to meet this need.
Support is available
If you or someone in your close circle needs support, help is available.
Information on services that offer free support, information and help can be found here:
If you are concerned about a disabled person being abused or neglected, you can find information on who to contact here: