Impact of abuse in care apology felt across the nation - advocate

The New Zealand Government’s apology to victims of abuse in state and church care lacks real action, a Pacific advocate says.

Kiwi Niuean activist and musician, Tigilau Ness, says the redress by the Prime Minister in Parliament on Wednesday does not address the concerns of survivors.

Christopher Luxon’s historic apology followed a landmark report that exposed decades of abuse in state and faith-based care institutions.

In an interview with PMN Niue host Faama Viliamu, Ness says “it’s historic” and a “long time coming

“The apology is never enough but it’s an acknowledgement.

“It’s a point of reference for the future so that if anything like this comes again, you apologise … and you have to stick to that.”

Watch the full interview with Tigilau Ness on PMN Niue here.

Acknowledging the government’s apology, Labour deputy leader Carmel Sepuloni says, “It's really important that the apology was made.

“I think I don't want to get too political because we are trying to work with the Government on this,” she told William Terite on Pacific Mornings.

“I certainly have heard the Chris criticism that the apology didn't go far enough.

“Some criticism that it wasn't the right place or done in the right way and I think it's important that we listen to survivors on that front.

“What's going to be really important now is what happens next.

“There was a small bill that was introduced to the House, very small, but there's a lot more that needs to happen, particularly the work around redress and we haven't had an indication of what that will look like yet.

“We're going to try and work with the Government on this and that is purely for the sake of the survivors,” Sepuloni said.

Watch the full interview with Labour deputy leader Carmel Sepuloni below.

Ness welcomed the idea of National and Labour working together for the good of the people and the nation as a whole.

“The apology from the Prime Minister and the opposition party’s Chris Hipkins, it shows that the two [politica] parties can work together…to help us move forward.

“Instead of fighting one another … they can work together.

“In order to help heal our people, they have to work together.

“Like the apology for the dawn raids, it is something. Better than them trying to hide it at least they have admitted it and we can go forward now knowing that it's been exposed and hoping and being vigilant that it doesn't happen again,” Ness said.