Sex offender in inquiry meetings: Minister says her hands are tied

by | Sep 26, 2019 | News, Public Inquiry

Warning: This story discusses issues related to rape and sexual violence.

Internal Affairs Minister Tracey Martin says she is “horrified” that a child sex offender attended meetings of the inquiry into state abuse of children but that there isn’t much she can do about it.

Newsroom reported on Tuesday that the Royal Commission into state abuse of children allowed a convicted child sex offender into three meetings with survivors.

The man is the partner of one of advisory group members and was attending as a support person. The commission was told that the man needed to notify police ahead of any travel.

Published in Stuff

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Child sex offender’s presence at abuse inquiry ‘sickens’ panel members

by | Sep 26, 2019 | News, Public Inquiry

Warning: This story discusses issues related to rape and sexual violence.

A member of a survivors’ group advising the Government’s abuse in care inquiry has skipped its latest meeting after revelations her partner is a convicted paedophile.

The Royal Commission of Inquiry into state of faith-based care appointed 18 people, themselves victims of abuse, to a survivors’ advisory group early this year.

Published in Stuff

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‘Clearly been a stress element’, Sir Anand Satyanand explains after stepping down from Abuse in Care Inquiry

by | Aug 8, 2019 | News, Public Inquiry

Sir Anand Satyanand has played down claims that his resignation as chair of the Abuse in Care Inquiry is a sign something is not working with the inquiry.

Yesterday Sir Anand, a former Governor-General, resigned from the inquiry, effective in November.

Speaking on TVNZ1’s Breakfast today Sir Anand said it was simply time for him to step down. Yesterday he was appointed chancellor of the University of Waikato.

“I heard the radio story this morning that this is a crack and a problem,” Sir Anand told Breakfast.

“It’s none of those things … the build up is completed … I’ve made a judgement call that this is a good time for me to step down.”

Sir Anand went on the acknowledge that there had “clearly been a stress element” when listening to accounts of survivors of abuse, but he had experienced similar stress during his professional life.

In a statement yesterday Sir Anand said: “The Abuse in Care Inquiry is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to change how New Zealand cares for children, young people and vulnerable adults.

“I am sure, when implemented by Government, this inquiry’s recommendations will see children and young people supported to thrive in safe environments, not abused or neglected.”

The Government is expected to appoint a new chair of the Abuse in Care Inquiry by November.

Published in One News Now
7 August 2019

Where to from here for abuse inquiry?

by | Aug 8, 2019 | Public Inquiry

Sir Anand Satyanand is stepping down as chair of the Royal Commission into Historic Abuse in state and religious institutional care. The first public hearing is scheduled in seven weeks and the inquiry is due to run until 2023.

Where does Sir Anand’s resignation leave those expecting to he heard? Kathryn speaks with Wellington lawyer Sonja Cooper and Liz Tonks from the Network for Survivors of Abuse in Faith based institutions.

Listen to this story on Radio New Zealand

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Alison Mau: State care abuse inquiry’s gang connections the latest hurdle for vulnerable participants

by | Jul 15, 2019 | News, Public Inquiry

OPINION: Important ideas often stumble on the detail, something the Royal Commission of Inquiry into historical abuse in state care is fast finding out.

A potentially life-changing concept that would hear survivors’ stories without fear nor favour, is finding itself hobbled by the near impossible task of keeping all comers happy and safe.

Published in Stuff

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Lawyer loses confidence in state care abuse inquiry

by | Jun 11, 2019 | News, Public Inquiry

A lawyer who represents people who were abused while in state care says she has lost confidence in the Royal Commission.

Sonja Cooper says the Commission has been holding ‘mock’ or ‘pilot’ sessions with abuse survivors ahead of the official hearings.

Ms Cooper represents about 1400 complainants. She tells Corin Dann that the mock sessions could be traumatising and she would be cautious about recommending her clients to participate in the Commission.

Listen to the story here

By Morning Report
Published in Radio New Zealand
10 June 2019

Royal Commission’s ‘mock’ sessions with survivors

by | Jun 11, 2019 | News, Public Inquiry

Survivors of abuse in state care have been blindsided by the Royal Commission investigating their treatment holding ‘mock’ interviews with them about their experiences as a practice run ahead of formal proceedings of the inquiry.

The meetings have involved more than 40 of the survivors and some did not understand that their sensitive contributions were part of a pre-inquiry ‘pilot’ by the commission which will not be included as evidence.

Published in Newsroom

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Otago men to assist commission

by | May 22, 2019 | News, Public Inquiry

Four Otago men who survived sexual abuse or physical violence while in care have been included in a new Survivor Advisory Group to help guide a pending Royal Commission.

The group of 20 men and women making up the new group was unveiled yesterday, representing survivors of abuse in state care and faith-based institutions.

They would help guide the work of the pending Royal Commission into historic abuse, which was expanded last year to include both state and faith-based institutions.

Published in Otago Daily Times

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Government sets out how it will respond to historical state abuse inquiry

by | May 11, 2019 | News, Public Inquiry

Minister for State Services Chris Hipkins said he would lead the Crown’s response to the inquiry.

Setting out the principles was an important step in rebuilding trust between the government and those abused while in state care, he said.

“This is an incredibly important matter. The government is determined to take action in a transparent, coordinated and timely way to ensure such wide scale abuse over such a long period can never be allowed to happen again.”

Published in Better Blokes

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