It “is a significant, sorrowful but important day” for the country, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has said in his formal apology to abuse victims at Parliament.
Survivors around the country gathered and tuned in to proceedings at Parliament, where a ballot-selected group of abuse survivors are also in the public gallery.
Here is the full text of the prime minister’s address on Tuesday:
Ngā kura mōrehu, Treasured survivors,
kua ngaro, haere atu rā. those that have passed, farewell.
Ngā kura mōrehu, Treasured survivors
E whakawhaiti nei that have gathered here.
Kei ngā rangatira To the esteemed leaders
Tēnā koutou katoa. Greetings.
I’d like to welcome you all here today on what is a significant, sorrowful but important day for you and for all of New Zealand.
I would also like to acknowledge those of you who are watching and listening from all around the country.
I know this day has been a long time coming.
Today I stand before you as the representative of not only this government, but all of the governments that have gone before us to offer a formal and unreserved apology for the abuse you suffered while in state care, churches and other faith-based places.
It was horrific. It was heartbreaking. It was wrong. And it should never have happened.
For many of you it changed the course of your life, and for that, the government must take responsibility.
I have said it before, but I thank you again for telling New Zealand with clarity and with honesty what happened to you.
The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State Care was the largest, longest and most complex public inquiry ever held in New Zealand.
More than 2400 of you were incredibly brave and shared your experiences of the abuse you suffered while in state care, churches and other faith-based places.
Places where you should have been safe and treated with respect, dignity and compassion. But instead, you were subjected to horrific abuse and neglect and in some cases torture.
In 16 devastating volumes, page after page your stories left many of us stunned that this could have happened here in New Zealand.
But not you. You knew the truth because you lived it, and you have waited and waited for people to start listening to you.
Now New Zealand has listened. Words do matter and I say these words with sincerity: I have read your stories, and I believe you.
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