Press release (Ministry of Health): Suicide Prevention Office gets down to work
Media Statement
By Rt Hon Jacinda Adern (Prime Minister), Hon Dr David Clark (Minister of Health)
27 November 2019
New Zealand’s first ever Suicide Prevention Office has officially opened today and is already working to tackle our persistently high rate of suicide.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Minister of Health Dr David Clark visited the Ministry of Health today to mark the Office’s opening and launch a community suicide prevention fund for Māori and Pacific people.
Outrage after Catholic Church leader allegedly justified abuse
A woman molested as a five-year-old girl by a high-profile Catholic theologian is outraged at a church leader justifying his abuse.
A Catholic leader is accused of telling a woman who was attacked when she was a girl by a high-profile priest, that he was “healing himself” when he had sex.
Rangi Davis is apologising.
But this has caused more ructions for the Church with the Royal Commission on abuse, already shaken by Bishop Charles Drennan’s resigning over his affair with a young woman.
By Phil Pennington (Morning Report)
Published in Radio New Zealand
21 November 2019
Two survivors quit Royal Commission advisory group
Two abuse survivors have quit a Royal Commission advisory group in fallout from being unknowingly exposed to a paedophile.
The two men accuse the new chair Judge Coral Shaw of spreading misinformation about the matter, and the commission as a whole of sidelining the survivor group.
Phil Pennington reports (Morning Report).
Altar boys say they were abused by priests at the Vatican
Former altar boys have claimed they were molested by priests inside the Vatican, as a lingering scandal surrounding widespread abuse in the Catholic Church erupts at its headquarters once again.
Several anonymous former altar boys at the Vatican’s youth seminary alleged at least two priests kissed and fondled three of them in the Nineties.
The claims will be aired on Sunday on Le Iene (“The Hyenas”), an Italian investigative TV programme, which first broke allegations in 2017 that the senior seminarian, now a priest, had sexually abused teenagers who served as altar boys at papal masses in St Peter’s Basilica.
Published in Independent
‘You ruined me’: New Zealand’s abuse survivors speak at landmark inquiry
Survivors are given a voice at first public hearings of investigation into historical abuse of thousands of children in state and faith-based care.
On the morning Annasophia Calman is due to testify in public about a childhood destroyed at the hands of her father and the state, she eats scrambled eggs on toast and paces back and forth in the hallway outside her hotel room.
Published in The Guardian
Victims of child sex abuse still face significant legal barriers suing churches – here’s why
Following the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, we are witnessing a wave of legal reforms across Australia aimed at helping survivors seek justice.
Most visibly, there is the National Redress Scheme, which provides victims access to counselling, a response from the institution where they were abused and payment of up to $150,000.
Published in The Conversation
Rape Crisis renamed; OCASA to work with all genders
For the first time in its four-decade history, Dunedin’s Rape Crisis centre will work with sexual abuse victims of all genders.
The shift is part of a major overhaul of the organisation, which also includes changing its name to the Otepoti Collective Against Sexual Abuse (OCASA).
Published in Otago Daily Times
Ribbons tied to fence of Catholic Cathedral to honour victims of abuse
Ribbons have been tied to the fence of the Catholic Cathedral in downtown Auckland by attendees and witnesses from the Royal Commission into Abuse.
Published in Radio New Zealand
Majority of sexual violence incidents reported to police are children or young people
The majority of 23,000 sexual violence incidents reported to police during the past five years were experienced by children or young people, according to a new Ministry of Justice report.
It reveals that for every 100 sexual violence incidents reported to the police, only 31 made it to court, 11 resulted in a conviction and six in imprisonment.
The report, Attrition and progression: Reported sexual violence victimisations in the criminal justice system, which was released on Friday, analysed 23,739 incidents that were reported between July 2014 and June 2018. The figures will now be updated annually.
Published in Stuff
Royal Commission hearings: Children’s Commissioner says state care has failed
The Children’s Commissioner has told the Abuse in Care Royal Commission that his office has failed to properly monitor the state care system.
Since 1989, the Office of the Children’s Commissioner has had the role of independent monitor of the practices and policies of Child, Youth and Family, which became Oranga Tamariki.
Published in Radio New Zealand
Royal Commission hearing: Psychologist says some children better off in state care
A clinical child psychologist has told the Royal Commission on Abuse in Care that children were often better off in state care than staying in families where they were abused.
The commission is currently holding hearings in Auckland.
Published in Radio New Zealand
Survivor raped multiple times in care despite concerns raised
A woman has told the Royal Commission investigating abuse in care she was moved between at least a dozen care homes and raped multiple times – all before she turned 16.
The inquiry investigating abuse in state and faith-based care heard yesterday from Dallas Pickering, who detailed publicly for the first time the violent abuse she experienced as a child.
Published in Radio New Zealand
Samoa Methodist minister faces 10 charges over sexual allegations
Samoa police have finalised criminal charges against a 51-year-old reverend of the Methodist Church, Tugia Tuliau, who is facing 10 counts.
Charges include one of rape and seven of sexual misconduct with a family member, as well as an indecent act to a dependent member of his family, who is a girl under 16 years of age.
The accused has appeared in the Supreme Court for the second time, with the case being adjourned without a plea being entered until next Monday to allow the defence lawyer to talk with his client.
The accused has been stripped of his pastoral roles.
The alleged offences happened when Mr Tuliau was serving at the Satalo Methodist Church.
Published in Radio New Zealand
4 November 2019
Abuse survivors not compensated enough, Commission hears
Two lawyers who have represented more than 1000 abuse survivors have told the Royal Commission no victim has ever received adequate compensation for what they suffered.
The inquiry into abuse in state and faith-based care has entered its second week of hearings in Auckland.
Published in Radio New Zealand
Abuse in Care inquiry: Number of claimants increasing – law firm
Two lawyers who represent claimants who were abused while in state or faith-based care say the number of people who have come forward is growing.
The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care has entered into its second week of hearings being held in Auckland.
Published in Radio New Zealand
Decision on school name change to follow after decision from Vatican
A decision to change a controversial school’s name has been put on hold while Dunedin’s Bishop waits for word from Rome.
Published in Radio New Zealand
Child sexual abuse inquiry criticises lack of cooperation from Vatican
The Vatican’s repeated refusal to cooperate with official investigations into paedophile priests and its delay in stripping convicted offenders of their clerical status has been condemned by the UK’s child sexual abuse inquiry.
In a highly critical attack on the papacy’s stonewalling response to decades of complaints, the lead counsel to the inquiry, Brian Altman QC, said it was “very disappointing” that significant evidence and statements had been withheld.
Published in The Guardian
11 percent of reported sexual violence cases end in conviction – report
Less than a third of sexual violence cases reported to the police make it court, according to a new report released by the Ministry of Justice.
Out of the almost 24,000 cases of sexual violence reports made to police between July 2014 and June last year, just 11 percent resulted in a conviction.
The government and advocacy groups say progress is being made, but a lot more work needs to be done.
Published in Radio New Zealand
What to expect from the long-awaited Abuse in Care Royal Commission
Analysis: A long time coming. Finally, after months of haggling over terms of reference, years of steadily growing political discussion and decades of pressure from those who experienced this vast subject first-hand, the Abuse in Care Royal Commission is ready to roll.
An avalanche of new material is in store for those whose job it will be to sift the evidence that will for the first time be publicly given at a preliminary contextual hearing in Auckland starting this Tuesday.
Published in Radio New Zealand
Abuse Inquiry: Claims of historical child rape at state-owned care institutions heard
Survivors of historical cases of child rape, violence and neglect at state-owned care institutions are being officially heard for the first time.
Witnesses on Tuesday began giving evidence at the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care, the biggest inquiry ever to have looked into what happened to children, young people and vulnerable adults in care between 1950 and 1999.
Keith Wiffin told the commission he was first abused aged 10 by a house master while he was at Epuni Boys Home. He’d been sent there after his father’s death left Wiffin’s mother unable to care for her four children.
Published in Stuff
Witnesses give evidence at Royal Commission inquiry into abuse in state care
Witnesses have this morning begun giving evidence at the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State Care.
One of the first to appear will be high-profile former prisoner Arthur Taylor, who will describe the abuse he suffered in a boy’s home.
Twenty-eight people will share their experiences of being in the system between 1950 and 1999 over the coming weeks.
A final report from the inquiry is not expected until 2023.
Published in TVNZ
30 October 2019
Resignation ahead of Royal Commission public hearings
Warning: This story discusses issues related to rape and sexual violence.
As the Royal Commission of Inquiry into State Abuse begins public hearings, its survivor advisory group is in disarray. Laura Walters talks to these survivors about the ongoing issues, and why they still think others should come forward to share their stories.
On Tuesday, a group of abuse survivors will stand outside the Rydges Hotel in Auckland in a show of solidarity with others coming to share their experiences with the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.
They are all members of the seminal Survivor Advisory Group – a group that has been plagued with ongoing issues.
Published in Newsroom
Royal Commission: Jehovah’s Witness elders told to destroy documents
Jehovah’s Witnesses church elders in New Zealand have been told to destroy documents, and child sex abuse survivors fear that will lead to the cover up of cases.
Published in Radio New Zealand
Joy Cowley blames victims of sex attacks by bishop
Peter Lineham talks about the issues arising from the unlikely defence by children’s author, Joy Cowley, of a disgraced bishop.
Listen online at Radio New Zealand
By the Panel
Published in Radio New Zealand
16 October 2019
Cardinal refers handling of sex abuse case to Vatican
The handling of historic sexual offending within the Catholic Diocese of Dunedin by then-Bishop John Kavanagh has been referred to the Vatican by New Zealand’s top Catholic.
Published in Radio New Zealand
Greater transparency wanted over agreement
A support group for survivors of sexual abuse by priests wants more transparency over an agreement struck with the Catholic Diocese of Dunedin.
But the call by Dr Christopher Longhurst, representing the New Zealand branch of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (Snap), has also triggered an acrimonious exchange with another support group.
Published in Otago Daily Times
Survivors frustrated by commission’s ‘cone of silence’
Warning: This story discusses issues related to rape and sexual violence.
Survivors have extended an olive branch to those running the Royal Commission of Inquiry into state abuse. Laura Walters reports on growing frustrations over a lack of communication a fortnight on from revelations survivors were exposed to a convicted child sex offender.
Published in Newsroom
Man continues fights against church
A Melbourne man is fighting to hold the Catholic church accountable for three clerics and a teacher who sexually violated him as a boy in Otago. Marc – RNZ won’t use his surname – has come back to New Zealand to give evidence and to beg the Royal Commission to weigh in on his second bid for some kind of justice. Phil Pennington reports.
By Morning Report
Published in Radio New Zealand
11 October 2019
Convicted child sex offender Peter Ellis dies before making last bid to clear name
The man whose child sex abuse case gripped the city of Christchurch and the nation, has died.
Peter Ellis’ death comes just five weeks before his last bid to clear his name before the Supreme Court.
The 61-year-old was jailed for a decade in 1993, on 16 counts of sexual offending against seven children at the Christchurch Civic creche.
Published in News Hub
Royal Commission: Pope accepts resignation of NZ bishop
A Catholic bishop who is part of the church’s response to the Royal Commission of inquiry into state abuse has offered his resignation to the Pope.
Published in Radio New Zealand
Catholic bishop of Palmerston North Charles Drennan expected to resign
The Catholic bishop of Palmerston North is expected to resign after less than eight years in the job.
Stuff understands Pope Francis has been asked, or will be asked on Friday, to accept 59-year-old Bishop Charles Drennan’s resignation. The reasons for the resignation are not known.
Drennan has been the only bishop on the support group known as Te Rōpū Tautoko, which was set up to manage co-operation between the Catholic Church and the Abuse in Care Royal Commission.
Published in Stuff
Paper: Violent crime against children with disabilities: A nationwide prospective birth cohort-study
Abstract: The rate of violent victimization against children with disabilities is thought to be lower than the rate for children without disabilities but several studies shows otherwise.
This paper is available at Science Direct
December 2019
Confidentiality clauses: Bishops ‘lack moral leadership’
New Zealand’s Catholic bishops have been accused of lacking moral leadership as church groups decide whether to waive confidentiality clauses in compensation agreements reached with abuse survivors.
Survivor advocates say bishops’ silence on the issue, as the Royal Commission of Inquiry into historic abuse gears up for public hearings, goes against recent edicts by Pope Francis directing senior clerics to build trust with survivors by being transparent and ensuring victims’ voices are heard.
Published in Radio New Zealand
Royal Commission: Minister’s confidence ‘has been shaken’
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
Royal Commission: Calls for commissioner Paul Gibson to step down
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
Sex offender in inquiry meetings: Minister says her hands are tied
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
Child sex offender’s presence at abuse inquiry ‘sickens’ panel members
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
Guide for reporting to the Royal Commission on Sexual Abuse
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).
Sexual Violence Court pilot shows trial time reduction
A report evaluating the pilot of New Zealand’s first Sexual Violence Court says pilot cases are proceeding to jury trial about a third faster on average than previously.
The evaluation also says that most complainants feel the pilot’s trials are managed in a way that does not cause them to feel retraumatised by the process.
The pilot has been running in the District Court at Auckland and Whangārei since December 2016 for all serious (Category 3) sexual violence cases to be heard by a jury. The pilot set out to reduce pre-trial delays and improve the court experience for participants.
Published in New Zealand Law Society
Family of George Pell victim ‘beyond disappointed’ at High Court appeal
Pedophile cardinal George Pell has lodged a special leave application with the High Court to try to challenge his convictions for sexually abusing choirboys.
The 78-year-old pedophile remained behind bars on Tuesday as his lawyers lodged a special leave application with Australia’s highest court.
A spokesperson for the High Court confirmed it had received the application through its Melbourne registry, “requesting leave to appeal a decision”.
Published in SBS
Childhood horrors laid bare as survivors talk of sexual abuse
Tears have taken up residence behind Grant West’s bright blue eyes.
He is 57 years old, a burly Kiwi living in Australia with bleach-tipped hair and a crumpled leather jacket.
By his estimate, he was sexually abused by 60 to 80 men by the time he turned 18. Just two of them faced justice.
His first abuser was his mother, he says. He was 4.
Published in Stuff
Underfunded mental health services to get funding boost
The government has announced it is boosting the funding of more than 20 existing underfunded mental health services.
It is also allocating $30 million for the creation of new front-line services that will start operating early next year.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Minister of Health David Clark made the announcement in Auckland this morning.
Published in Radio New Zealand
Catholic Church admits liability for paedophile Gerald Ridsdale’s crimes
The Catholic Church has accepted legal responsibility for the sexual abuse of a nine-year-old boy by notorious paedophile Gerald Ridsdale in a significant case which could open the floodgates for victims seeking compensation.
After denying any knowledge of Ridsdale’s offending before the boy was raped in a confessional box at Mortlake in 1982, lawyers for the church on Friday accepted an amended statement of claim from the victim in the Supreme Court – in effect admitting legal liability for his crimes.
Published in The Age
The state of the science on trauma inquiry – Research article
Research funded jointly by social service providers and philanthropic organisations. Published from Women’s Health, Volume 15: 1–17, 2019.
Report shows $630 million government funding shortfall for community social services – Press release
The government is underfunding social service providers delivering services that are essential to the wellbeing of New Zealand children, families, whānau and communities by an estimated $630 million a year, an independent study has found.
The study found that the government funds social service providers for less than two thirds of the actual costs of delivering the essential services they are contracted to provide, often for some of New Zealand’s most vulnerable people.
Download the Press Release (PDF)
By Social Services Providers Aotearoa
2 September 2019
Sexual harm: Confronting the issue
Health authorities urged to target growing male suicide
Warning: This story deals with the topic of suicide.
Health authorities are being urged to target a growing number of young men dying by suicide.
Figures released on Monday show 112 of the 685 people to die by suicide in the year to June 2019 were men aged 15 to 24.
More than three in every 10,000 young men aged 20 to 24 died by suicide, and men of all age groups made up 68 per cent of suicides.
Victoria University lecturer Dr Chris Bowden said the high rate was due to the “invisibility of men in previous suicide prevention”.
Published in Stuff
Suicide rates rise to highest-ever level
Warning: This story deals with the topic of suicide.
The number of suicides in New Zealand has reached its highest-ever level, with 685 people dying in the year to June 30.
That compares to the 2018 road toll where 377 lives were lost.
Published in Stuff
Kristina Keneally blasts Melbourne archbishop for claiming George Pell is innocent
The Labor senator Kristina Keneally has blasted Melbourne’s Catholic archbishop for his response to Cardinal George Pell losing his appeal against child sexual abuse convictions.
Keneally, herself a prominent Catholic, said she was gobsmacked that Archbishop Peter Comensoli had maintained that Pell was innocent and had questioned whether his victim was mistaken. “It’s distressing for so many reasons,” she told Sky News on Sunday.
Published in The Guardian
‘He was a witness of truth’: why the judges decided Cardinal George Pell was guilty
On Wednesday, Cardinal George Pell lost his appeal to overturn a conviction of child sexual assault.
Chief Justice Anne Ferguson, Justice Chris Maxwell and Justice Mark Weinberg of the Victorian supreme court published their reasons in a 323-page judgment, along with a seven-page summary.
Ferguson and Maxwell found that the jury’s initial verdict was not unreasonable, while Weinberg, in dissent, said it should be overturned. Below are the excerpts that best summarise why and how that judgment was reached.
Published in The Guardian