State Abuse Survivors Aotearoa NZ

08/02/2025

Hi everyone, I've been sitting back and watching so many stories (good and bad) unfold in our many communities. This one is a bit more intellectual than usual. It tells the story of the community of 60(ish!) survivors that were brought together in 2023 to design a redress system.

The change in government saw those plans shelved, and some dangerous words being spoken about people in survivor communities. The recent conviction and ending of name suppression given to the former Chair of the ACT party puts the government's credibility (and the credibility of the Governor General who called the Inquiry) at question over their repeated excuse of child abuse and denial of access to rehabilitation.

The start of the calendar year is important for the government as it begins the runway to the decisions taken about Budget 2025. So, I wanted to compile this as you start to interact with news about government projects and investments.

Decisions take place usually between March and early May. So, there's plenty of lobbying time available to you and your groups.

05/02/2025

Crown Response Office and Citizens Advice have launched a new site that aims to connect survivors with the records of their time/s in care. Head to www.konae.org.nz to find out more.

https://www.konae.org.nz

30/12/2024

In the recent New Year Honours, numerous survivors of abuse were recognised for their resilience and contributions to society, highlighting the importance of acknowledging their experiences. This recognition serves as a powerful reminder of the ongoing journey towards healing and justice for the estimated quarter of a million people affected by abuse in care settings.

In what many might see as a turn-up for the books, people from the abuse in care survivor community have been recognised in the New Years honours list.

23/12/2024

December 2024 was certainly... a month ... right. Apologies everyone who's waiting on a response to their messages, I've been unwell for most of the month, but here's a Christmas message.
My Christmas focus will be on those relationships where there is positivity, and seeing a little sunshine and fresh air as my abilities allow. Thanks everyone for your support this year.

Firstly, thanks everyone for your interest in this project. There's a heap I've had to back-burner due to an unexpected medical diagnosis that has taken most of December to comprehend. And then I got sick - starting to s...

01/12/2024

Radio NZ's investigation continues, they tell us in August the A-G was concerned about setting precedent and the MSD Minister reiterated concern about lowering expectations. No-one likes doing something for the first time, and could MSD be the face of redress?

19/11/2024

We are bringing together the resources we find about where to go for state care abuse redress, contacts, services and info. Take a look at our redress section for links to specific agencies and faith-based institutions.

Here we will post contact details for various redress schemes. Keep checking back, or click the message icon to request us to find a redress schemes contact details. 

17/11/2024

Hi everyone - wow, loads of people keep wanting to know about me! (as a survivor, we all know how awkward and exposing this is ... here goes!). Hi, kia ora and Malo ... I'm Filipo. I'm 42, a Libra and am now a retired economist. I've retired because I have Parkinsons and early onset dementia (and that's why I don't smile in too many photos!)
My survivorship, I was sexually abused by my mother, withheld medical treatment and ultimately kicked out of home at 16.
However, while I was at home, I was sent for respite to a place where I was beaten. While visiting my mother in psychiatric institutions, was both beaten and sexually assaulted.
At school I was repeatedly threatened with expulsion for being LGBTI and I was forced into conversion practices twice by a school and a church,
Somehow, I survived and went on to a career in journalism and later retrained to become an economist.
However, my disability hit about a year after qualifying with my PhD, and shortly after that I had to retire cos my disabilities were in the way of doing the normal work tasks. So, here I am, with experience in different care settings, experience with abuse, and experience with major government economics processes as well as the rules of statistical monitoring.
And as I'm no longer working, I'm bored, so why not set up a website to monitor progress against the recommendations of the Royal Commission of Inquiry.
I hope this has built a little trust among you, thanks for reading!! All questions welcome, but remember, I'm a disabled volunteer... don't expect the backing of a multinational team or huge analytics suite!

17/11/2024

For many of us, we were forced to make many apologies. Apologies to our abuser for their wandering hands, apologies to the sadist who was enjoying the belt-welts rising on our arms and legs. So, for some of our community, hearing that same word is a catalyst and activator for healing. So, here's episode 1 of a deep dive into other apologies recommended by the Royal Commission.

16/11/2024

Thanks to everyone who's been signing up and also sharing your stories. Next new Question: Who do I talk to about my records, or a claim. And here's one answer

If you have experienced abuse or neglect while in our care, you may be able to make a claim. Please talk to us – we can help find ways to support you.

13/11/2024

It's the day after the apology, the clock really is ticking on the government to implement the royal commissions interim and final recommendations.

12/11/2024

Mixed emotions? Totally understandable, Recommendation 2 of the Abuse in Care Inquiry, apology by the Prime Minister - done.

I’d like to welcome you all here today on what is a significant, sorrowful but important day for you and for all of New Zealand.

03/11/2024

Question 3: why statistics about the Abuse in Care recommendations? (Long answer, sorry!!) The Royal Commission spoke to loads of people, people came out of the shadows to share their experiences and new voices are advocating for loads of groups.
From my career in policy, analysis, economics and marketing I’ve learned that high quality advocacy needs both statistics and stories. We have the stories by the truck load as a huge community - but stats are usually hidden in reports and behind the Official Information Act.
So, now I have spare time (thanks to semi-retirement), why not use my time and skills to source free government information and stick it somewhere that advocates can find and use (and verify! Just cos I’m putting it there means it’s “perfect”! ) to support community stories and to drive different advocacy agenda.
(ALSO - some people may see stats here and come up with their own advocacy campaigns and groups 🎉❤️) - but, yeah, it’s just a stats website with announcements every time I find something new! Yeah, just stats!

A survivor-volunteer led initiative monitoring the government's response to the Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry.