Noa'ia ‘e mạuri, Tālofa lava, Mauri, Kia orāna, Mālō e lelei, Talofa, Ni sa bula vinaka, Fakaalofa lahi atu, Mālō nī, Halo olgeta, Halo olketa, Tēnā koutou kātoa and warm Pacific greetings to you all.
On 12 November 2024, the Prime Minister and seven public sector leaders delivered national apologies to survivors of abuse in care.
This is a significant milestone, particularly for our Pacific peoples who were placed in care and have endured abuse and neglect.
I attended the concurrent apology event in Wellington, which acknowledged the State’s failures to protect our Pacific peoples in care. A lack of understanding of Pacific historical and cultural context, and discriminatory policies and practices led to Pacific peoples experiencing neglect and abuse in care, including racial, physical or sexual abuse. It saddens me to know that we will never fully understand the extent of abuse and neglect that Pacific Peoples suffered in care due to poor record-keeping of survivors’ demographic information and failure to document incidents of abuse and neglect.
Ultimately, the State failed to uphold the human rights of Pacific peoples and all peoples in care.
I want to acknowledge our Pacific peoples who experienced abuse and neglect in care who are no longer with us today.
My thoughts are also with our Pacific communities who have faced the pain of racial discrimination and disconnection from their families, language and culture. This disconnection has had far-reaching impacts on future generations, contributing to the active suppression of languages, cultures, and identities. The loss of language, in particular, can have devastating and lifelong effects on health and wellbeing, identity and a sense of belonging, for not only individuals, but their families and communities.
I acknowledge that the apologies and the announcements made on 12 November 2024 are just part of the healing process for survivors, their whānau, and descendants. There is a current and urgent need to focus on reducing any and all risk of harm, ensuring the needs of Pacific people in care today are being appropriately met including that they are safe, and with all efforts focused on preventing future risk of abuse in care.
I want to share a Tokelauan proverb that captures the strength and resilience of survivors and looks to the future.
“Totō hau tōkiga nei, aua na tupulaga e fāi mai - Plant a seed today for the future generations.”
I continue to support the Government’s efforts to ensure that it meets the needs of Pacific survivors and their families.
To read the report please visit: Whanaketia – Through pain and trauma, from darkness to light
For the video files of the public apologies and resources, please visit The Crown Response to Abuse in care website.