PM acknowledges Pacific abuse in govt apology

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has issued an “unreserved” apology for the abuse suffered by children in state care and acknowledged the unique harm suffered by Pacific children and their families.

“For many Māori and Pacific children, the experience of state care was marked by racial discrimination and disconnection from their families, language, and culture,” the Prime Minister said.

“You deserved so much better, and I am deeply sorry New Zealand did not do better by you.”

The apology followed the findings of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care, the largest public inquiry in New Zealand history.

Despite only making up 5 per cent of the overall 3000 experiences, Pacific survivors experienced higher levels of physical abuse than other ethnicities.

The inquiry revealed they were disproportionately targeted for harsher treatment due to their ethnicity and were often forced into care systems that severed ties to their cultural heritage.

More than half of those who spoke to the Inquiry described being sexually abused while they were in social welfare care, 36 per cent of Pacific survivors who experienced disability or mental health settings experienced neglect, a higher proportion compared to other groups.

Hundreds packed into the Due Drops Event Centre to hear the apology via livestream. Photo/PMN News/Ala Vailala

A legacy of harm

Pacific parents were frequently told that placing their children in state care was the “right thing to do,” Luxon acknowledged.

The report found that many of those children were subjected to neglect, abuse, and cultural alienation.

The loss of language and family connection has left long-lasting scars on individuals and entire communities.

The Prime Minister also apologised to parents, many of whom trusted the state to protect their children.

“Some parents were told that putting their children in state care was the right thing to do. Very often, it was not.

“To those parents, I am sorry that we did not care for your children as if they were our own.”

Government Response and Commitment

The Government has committed to addressing the Royal Commission’s 138 recommendations, with a focus on three key areas: Acknowledging the abuse, supporting survivors, and preventing future harm.

The Prime Minister also announced the establishment of a National Remembrance Day on November 12, 2025, to honour survivors and reflect on the harm caused by state care systems.

The Prime Minister acknowledged the uphill task of rebuilding trust with Pacific communities but said the government was committed to ensuring the mistakes of the past would not be repeated.

“The abuse that should never have been accepted will no longer occur,” he said.

“We owe it to those who have suffered to honour their courage by making these changes.”

Key announcements include:

• Financial Redress: An additional $32 million investment to increase capacity in the current redress system, which the government aims to replace with a more streamlined, survivor-focused system by next year.

• Support Services: A $2 million fund to help survivor-focused organisations navigate support services for Pacific and other affected communities.

• Legislative Reforms: New measures to improve safeguards, including removing strip searches for children in care, strengthening restrictions on workers in care settings, and ensuring better record-keeping to preserve survivors’ histories and cultural identities.