New Zealand finds that state and religious institutions failed to prevent or stop decades of abuse

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand’s independent inquiry into the abuse of children and vulnerable adults released a blistering final report on Wednesday. It found that state agencies and churches failed to prevent, stop, or admit New Zealand abuse — even when they knew about it.

The scale of the abuse was “unimaginable,” scrutiny of state and faith-run institutions lax and predators rarely faced repercussions, the report said. #NewZealandAbuse

In response, New Zealand’s government acknowledged that some children’s treatment in a notorious state-run hospital amounted to torture. The government pledged an apology to all those abused in state, foster, and religious care since 1950. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said it was too soon to reveal expected compensation amounts. The inquiry estimated compensation could run to billions of dollars, but Luxon didn’t promise job losses for officials involved in the cover-up.

The Royal Commission’s findings marked the end of a six-year investigation in New Zealand. This followed two decades of similar probes globally. It echoed other nations’ struggles with authorities’ transgressions against children in state and religious care. #NewZealandAbuse

The results were a “national disgrace,” the inquiry’s report said. Nearly a third of 650,000 children and adults faced abuse. Many more suffered exploitation or neglect, the report added. Accurate numbers are unknown because complaints were ignored and records destroyed.