Story by Mike Bain, from The Daily Examiner.
The New Zealand Government’s response to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care has sparked outrage among advocates and survivors, with legal experts condemning the Crown’s handling of the recommendations.
Cooper Legal, a firm representing survivors of abuse in state care, has strongly criticized the Government’s decision to reject 23 of the 207 recommendations made by the Royal Commission.
Principal Partner Sonja Cooper argues that the Government’s approach demonstrates a blatant disregard for the findings of the inquiry, which was established to investigate historical abuse in state and faith-based institutions.
“In the 12 months since the Royal Commission’s final report was published, only three of the 207 recommendations have been accepted and implemented,” Cooper stated. “This is extremely disheartening and shows a complete disregard for the entire Royal Commission process.”
The Royal Commission, which concluded its work in June 2024, found that approximately 200,000 New Zealanders had suffered abuse while in state or faith-based care between 1950 and 2019.
Survivors and advocates had hoped the Government would act swiftly to implement meaningful redress measures, but progress has been slow.
Cooper Legal points out that 95 recommendations have been awaiting action since December 2021, yet the Crown continues to deliberate at what Cooper describes as a “glacial pace.”
Meanwhile, survivors—many of whom are elderly—continue to pass away without receiving justice or compensation for their suffering.
The Government’s response has also drawn criticism from other voices.
Chris Longhurst, a survivor of clerical abuse and a recipient of a King’s Birthday Honour for his advocacy work, called the Government’s rejection of key recommendations an “insult” to survivors. Longhurst has spent over two decades fighting for recognition and compensation for those abused in faith-based institutions.
Minister Erica Stanford, who is overseeing the Government’s response, defended the approach, stating that the Crown has accepted or partially accepted 85 of the 207 recommendations.
She emphasized that the response would be ongoing, given the complexity of the recommendations, and noted that Budget 2025 allocated $188 million over four years to improve protections for vulnerable individuals.
However, critics argue that the Government’s response falls far short of international standards.
Cooper Legal highlighted that other countries have implemented comprehensive redress schemes following similar inquiries, ensuring survivors receive adequate recognition and healing.
“The Royal Commission could not have been clearer about what is required to acknowledge past harm and prevent future abuse,” Cooper said. “This Government has ignored independent expert findings and is doing less than the bare minimum to address the needs of survivors.”
With New Zealand set to report to the United Nations on its response to the Royal Commission, advocates warn that the Government’s handling of the issue may attract international scrutiny. Survivors and legal experts continue to push for stronger action, arguing that the current approach fails to meet the country’s obligations to provide effective redress.
The debate over the Government’s response is far from over, and pressure is mounting for officials to take more decisive action in addressing the legacy of abuse in care.
