With today scheduled as the time for the New Zealand government to formally apologise to survivors of abuse in state care, emotions ran high.
As soon as Prime Minister Christopher Luxon rose to speak in Parliament, a person in the public gallery began shouting, leading Speaker Gerry Brownlee to order guards to remove him.
He was later identified as Karl Mokaraka, an abuse survivor who had previously run for election as part of the Destiny Church’s Vision NZ party last year.
“We need Jesus back in this Parliament,” he shouted. “How can we heal without Jesus Christ back in this Parliament?”
It took four security guards to wrest Mokaraka out of his seat and toward the door before he gave up and walked out.
While many of the other 200 survivors present in the gallery made their disapproval plain, there was a strong feeling among many that the apology means little when the government is still prevaricating about redressing the wrong.
Yelling, Tears at Earlier Event
Luxon’s formal apology came after a morning of speeches in the Beehive (executive wing of Parliament), including from the current heads of seven government departments held responsible for the abuse. Those, too, were interrupted by heckling, especially when the Solicitor-General Una Jagose, rose to speak.Some in the audience left the room in tears.
The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State Care revealed that her office, which acts for the government in court, had used delaying tactics and failed to release information in an attempt to avoid the government facing what could be a multi-billion dollar liability.
“I am here today to say I am sorry,” she said.
“No, you’re not,” an audience member yelled out, while another stood and turned their back on her.
Oranga Tamariki Chief Executive Andrew Bridgman told the crowd: “We are sorry for not giving you a safe place to grow up.”
“To every survivor and every person who did not survive, to the children we have failed, to the adults those children have now become, we are sorry,” he said.
Ministry of Social Development Chief Executive Debbie Power said: “We may have thought we were removing you from harm, but often we were putting you in harm’s way. We did not always protect you. For that, I am deeply sorry.”
Other expressions of remorse came from Secretary of Education Andy Jackson, Director-General of Health Diana Sarfati, Acting Police Commissioner Tania Kura, and Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche, all of whom admitted their agencies had failed those children sent to various state institutions.
However, the government says that only those held at the former Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture.
Compensation Gets Interim $32 Million Boost
Luxon began by saying, “I make this apology to all survivors on behalf of my own and previous governments. You deserved so much better and I am deeply sorry that New Zealand did not do better by you.“I am sorry you were not believed when you came forward to report your abuse. I am sorry that many bystanders—staff, volunteers, and carers—turned a blind eye and failed to stop or report abuse.
“I am sorry the state’s oversight of people in care was so poor.”
He went on to announce an additional $32 million (US$19 million) to increase capacity in the current compensation system but promised that a new single redress system would be operating by next year.
At present, around 3,500 survivors are eligible for up to $30,000 under the rapid response system. In comparison, the starting point for compensating someone wrongfully imprisoned is $100,000.
“We know there are challenges with that redress system ... there is a massive intention, will and drive to make it right,” Luxon said. “It is highly complex; it is highly charged.”
Luxon said the government is working on the 138 recommendations of the Royal Commission as well as ensuring the stories of the victims were being heard.
A Day of Remembrance will be held on Nov. 12 next year to commemorate the apology.
