Royal Commission update
Royal Commission
update
Strictly
embargoed until 1pm, Friday 1
February
Kia ora koutou
Today is the one-year anniversary of the formal establishment of the Royal Commission (noting that the Terms of Reference were confirmed by the Government in November 2018). This is a significant milestone and an opportunity to update you on our progress. Since the appointment of Commissioners in November 2018, progress has been made and the inquiry is beginning to take shape.
Values and Vision
The Royal Commission is
about people, in particular children, young people and
vulnerable adults, and their experiences of historical abuse
and neglect in State care and in the care of faith-based
institutions. Commissioners have agreed the values of the
Royal Commission will be:
- Reciprocity and
balance
-
- Independence and
determination
-
- Transparency
-
- Aroha.
-
Over
the coming weeks we will test these to ensure they are
appropriate in terms of their meaning for all stakeholders,
in particular for Māori and Pasifika
groups.
Commissioners have also established a vision for the inquiry. They want to ensure that both the outcome of the inquiry and the process for engaging communities and survivors will transform the way care is provided to the most vulnerable people in our communities.
The Royal Commission’s vision is:
“Transforming the way we, as a nation, care for
children,
young people and vulnerable
adults in our
communities.”
Engagements
Commissioners
are developing processes to ensure the inquiry is run
fairly, impartially and in a manner responsive to what
survivors tell us. They acknowledge the critical importance
of listening to the voices of survivors and their
supporters.
A series of engagements with interested persons throughout the country has now begun and will continue over the coming weeks. The purpose of these is to gather feedback on how the inquiry should run and what it should cover. They are a valuable way of informing Commissioners of the expectations of interested parties, and testing the approach the Royal Commission will take.
A number of public events involving Commissioners will also be held around the country in the near future. We will share the details of these on our website and Facebook page when they are confirmed.
Work
programme
There will be a
number of processes established for people to have their say
directly to Commissioners; all have an equal standing in
recording the experiences of abuse.
Commissioners will establish a private listening forum to hear directly from survivors and their whānau about their accounts of abuse. Our expectation is that survivors will come forward and talk to Commissioners about their experiences.
Groups of people (individuals and organisations) will also be able to provide evidence at public hearings. Specific locations and venues around New Zealand are still to be confirmed. These hearings may be ‘live-streamed’.
In addition, Commissioners will hold round table discussions with key parties relating to specific themes that emerge.
It is a priority for Commissioners to ensure that survivors are safe at every stage of their engagement with the Royal Commission. This includes providing counselling and other support services to people who need it.
Terms of
Reference
To many people,
the Terms of Reference appear complicated or difficult to
follow. The Commissioners are finalising an easy-read Terms
of Reference “one pager”. This will soon be shared
publicly so people can see clearly and easily what it means
and what is in, and out of, scope of the Royal
Commission’s inquiry.
Advisory Groups
Over the coming weeks and
following engagement, Commissioners will make decisions
about the composition and roles of Advisory groups that will
provide advice to Commissioners. We know this is critical
to ensuring the collective voice of survivors is effectively
heard and
recognised.
Communications
On
the Communications front, we will shortly be posting a
calendar of key dates and events on our website, and
Facebook, which will be continually updated. This will
ensure people are informed and can effectively follow the
progress of the Royal Commission.
You can expect to hear more from us in the weeks ahead as key decisions are made.
Sir Anand
Satyanand
Chair, Royal
Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in Care