The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry will issue reports, including recommendations for change, throughout its four-year life. The Government intends to start work on those recommendations as they are made.
Stay up to date: If you would like to stay up to date on our work programme, please email: contact@abuseinquiryresponse.govt.nz with 'Pānui' in the email subject line.
Survivor-led design of a redress systemThe Royal Commission interim report on redress identified failings in the Crown’s approach to providing redress, which it says led to many years of avoidable harm for abuse survivors. The report called for a new, independent, trauma-informed redress system to be developed for survivors of abuse in care. This would replace existing redress processes run by government agencies. Planning for the creation of a new redress system The Government announced(external link) it will develop a new independent system. The Crown Response Unit called for nominations for a Redress Design Group or an Advisory group to develop proposals for a new independent system, puretumu torowhānui focused on healing from trauma and abuse. Nominations have now closed and a candidate review panel has been appointed to review the nominations. Read the High-Level Design for a new redress system Cabinet paper [PDF, 18 MB] [December 2022] |
Improving support for survivors of abuse in careThe government is improving its support for survivors of abuse in care while a new independent redress system is being designed. On 9 August 2022 Public Services Minister Hon Chris Hipkins announced(external link) that work was under way on three immediate projects: Work is now underway on preparing a national apology to abuse in care survivors. Read the Immediate Projects Cabinet Paper [PDF, 2 MB] This work is being coordinated by the Crown Response Unit and guided by previous engagement with survivors, including the views of hundreds of survivors that informed the Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry’s interim report on redress(external link), released in December 2021. Additional advice and guidance from survivors, experts and others will also be sought. |
1. Rapid paymentsThe Government announced(external link) on Tuesday 13 December 2022 rapid payments for historical abuse claimants. Rapid payments are not part of the new, independent redress system – they are being run by existing claims agencies. The first set of rapid payments are being made by the Ministry of Social Development (MSD), which has about 3000 historic claims – more than 90% of all the current historical claims being processed by four government agencies. The Ministry is prioritising rapid payments for survivors who are seriously ill or unwell, aged over 70, or have waited the longest to get their claims considered. To find out more please contact the Ministry of Social Development: 0800 631 127 or visit its website.(external link) |