A Hollow Apology: The Disingenuous Nature of the Government’s State Care Apology

Introduction:

On November 12th, 2024, the coalition government will deliver a public apology to 200,000 survivors who endured physical, mental, psychological, sexual abuse and torture while in state care between 1950 and 2019.

On this day Survivors of state care abuse will be converging on parliament. Other survivors have opted to meet at Pipitea marae where screens will be set up to watch the process on live parliament TV. Counselling services, rongoa Māori practitioners, and health care practitioners will also be available to help survivors in need at this time.

While this long-awaited apology represents a significant step towards acknowledging the systemic failures that led to these abuses, it rings hollow in the face of the government’s continued actions that undermine the very principles of restorative justice and healing.

Also read:

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/abuseincare/522917/how-colonisation-created-the-state-care-to-prison-pipeline

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/abuseincare/523166/the-state-care-decision-that-rippled-through-four-generations

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/abuseincare/525059/after-the-royal-commission-what-s-next-for-state-care-survivors

The government’s decision to implement boot camps, despite the Royal Commission’s clear condemnation of their ineffectiveness and their connection to the cycle of abuse experienced by many incarcerated individuals, exposes a blatant disregard for the report’s findings. Similarly, the simultaneous construction of a super-prison at Waikeria, despite the report highlighting the disproportionate representation of state care survivors within the prison system, further fuels the cycle of trauma and neglect, that continually focuses on punishment as opposed to addressing an intergenerational legacy of state care harm.

Mōrehu meet with Governor General

Beyond the criminal justice system, the government’s actions demonstrate a continued erosion of support for Māori communities, who are disproportionately represented among state care survivors. The removal of funding from Te Aka Whaiora, a vital organization needed for addressing the trauma experienced by by Māori survivors, and the slashing of funding for Te Ahu o te reo Māori and Whakaata Māori, crucial institutions for preserving and promoting Māori language and culture, further exacerbating the systemic inequities that contributed to the multiple experiences of abuse in the first place.

Survivor advisory board to the Royal Commission

The government’s apology, while a necessary step, must be accompanied by genuine action. This includes a commitment to implementing the recommendations of the Royal Commission, ensuring accountability for past abuses, and investing in resources that support the healing and well-being of survivors. The government’s current actions, however, suggest a continued pattern of gaslighting, lip service and a lack of genuine commitment to addressing the root causes of the abuse.

Conclusion:

Survivors of state care deserve a genuine apology, not a hollow gesture. They deserve justice, not more systemic failures. They deserve healing, not more trauma. This apology must be the beginning of a long and arduous journey toward true accountability and lasting change.

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About the Author: Dr Rawiri Waretini-Karena

Ngāti Māhanga, Ngāti Māhuta, Ngāti Kaahu, Ngāti Hine- Ngāti Mōrehu: Lecturer, Educator, Independent researcher.