Internal Affairs Minister Tracey Martin has refused to express confidence in the leadership of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care, after it was revealed a convicted child sex offender was involved.
Published in YYY
The commissioner embroiled in the latest scandal at the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care says he won’t be stepping down.
Paul Gibson is responsible for the group of sexual abuse survivors who advise the Royal Commission as it investigates historical abuse of children in state and church care.
Yesterday it was revealed that a partner of one of the advisory group members is a convicted child sex offender and has attended gatherings alongside members of the group.
Published in Radio New Zealand
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
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
The Network for Survivors of Abuse in Faith-based Institutions has published a guide for survivors who want to report to the Royal Commission.
Download a copy of the guide (DOC format).
The first Procedural hearing of the Abuse in Care Inquiry is on Monday, 19 August at 10am at Rydges Hotel, Federal Street in Auckland.
Published in Abuse in State Care Royal Commission of Inquiry
Sir Anand Satyanand’s sudden resignation from the abuse inquiry is being seen as another sign the Royal Commission is dysfunctional.
Published in Radio New Zealand
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
The head of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in Care, Sir Anand Satyanand, has announced he is stepping down from the job.
Sir Anand has chaired the high-level inquiry since its establishment in February.
This story was first published by RNZ
Published in Otago Daily Times
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
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
An Auckland woman in her 70s says her experience of giving evidence to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into historical abuse in state care has been farcical.
Published in Radio New Zealand
A high-profile gang member with a domestic violence conviction is playing a key role within the Royal Commission of Inquiry into state abuse, despite one woman going to police over safety fears.
Published in Radio New Zealand
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.
By Morning Report
Published in Radio New Zealand
10 June 2019
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
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