In a landmark address, New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has issued a formal apology to victims of abuse within care homes, acknowledging the extensive suffering faced by over 200,000 individuals across generations.
**New Zealand Prime Minister Offers Historic Apology for Care Home Abuse Scandal**
**New Zealand Prime Minister Offers Historic Apology for Care Home Abuse Scandal**
Christopher Luxon addresses painful legacy of abuse in state care as reforms are promised
New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon delivered a significant and historic apology in parliament addressing the abuse suffered by children and vulnerable adults within state and faith-based care institutions from 1950 to 2019. This apology followed the findings of an extensive inquiry that uncovered a staggering 200,000 cases of abuse, including incidents of rape, sterilization, and forced labor, particularly impacting Māori and Pacific communities and those with disabilities. This inquiry, described as the most complex public inquiry in New Zealand's history, involved interviews with more than 2,300 survivors, many of whom had long struggled to gain recognition and justice for their experiences.
During the apology, Luxon expressed deep remorse, stating, “It was horrific. It was heartbreaking. It was wrong. And it should never have happened.” He acknowledged the lifelong impacts of this trauma on survivors and emphasized the government’s responsibility for these actions. Critics highlighted that despite the apology, without actionable plans for restitution, the words could seem empty. Survivors, such as Tupua Urlich, voiced concerns that the true justice they seek requires more than just acknowledgement; it demands concrete actions informed by their experiences.
In response to the inquiry’s over 100 recommendations, the government has committed to taking immediate actions, including a proposed financial redress mechanism expected next year and additional funding of NZ$32 million to enhance the current care system. The government is also working on a new bill aimed at improving protections for children in care, which includes prohibiting strip searches and imposing stricter regulations on individuals working with minors.
Looking to the future, Luxon announced a National Remembrance Day scheduled for November 12 next year to honor the survivors and mark the significance of the apology. He concluded with a call to the nation, urging collective efforts to prevent abuse from occurring again, reinforcing that “it is on all of us to do all we can.”
