14 Oct 2026
1 week ago
229 views
The Government has approved a third and final $820,000 round of the Survivor Support and Recognition Fund (SSRF) to support community-led services for survivors of abuse and neglect in care, with applications opening in February 2027. The SSRF, administered by the Department of Internal Affairs, was established in 2025 following recommendations from the Abuse in Care Royal Commission and has previously allocated $4.2 million to 68 organisations for survivor-focused initiatives such as healing, advocacy, and memorial projects. This final funding round aims to help organisations continue their survivor support services while seeking sustainable funding options.
31 Jul 2026
2 months ago
592 views
Hon Paul Davison KC KSO has been appointed as the Independent Redress Officer for a five-year term starting 1 August 2026, tasked with determining financial redress applications from survivors of abuse in State care who are serious offenders, as well as exemption applications from terminally ill survivors. Hon Davison, a former High Court judge with extensive legal experience, has previously served in significant inquiry roles and developed a compassionate redress framework for survivors of abuse at the Lake Alice Child and Adolescent Unit. Lead Coordination Minister Erica Stanford emphasized the importance of this independent role and thanked Hon Davison for accepting the position.
25 Jun 2026
4 months ago
877 views
The Redress System for Abuse in Care Bill, recently passed its third reading, aims to improve the state redress system by recognizing abuse experiences, providing alternatives to litigation, and extending coverage to survivors of abuse in mental health facilities from 1993 to 2022. The Bill introduces a presumption against financial redress for survivors convicted of serious violent or sexual offences sentenced to five years or more, while still allowing access to other forms of redress and establishing an independent redress officer to review exemptions. Implementation will begin in stages, with the serious offender process starting on 1 August 2026 and full coverage including mental health abuse after 2022 set for 14 July 2027.
20 May 2026
5 months ago
1028 views
The New Zealand Government is funding seven local authorities and 68 non-government organisations through the Survivor Support and Recognition Fund (SSRF) to memorialise at least 4,000 unmarked graves linked to psychiatric and psychopaedic sites and to support survivors of abuse in care. Since its establishment after the 2024 public apology, the SSRF has allocated over $4.9 million in two funding rounds to create memorials, provide survivor services such as peer support and therapy, and conduct research on burial sites. These initiatives aim to acknowledge the long-term impact of abuse and neglect in care, fulfilling key recommendations of the Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry.
15 May 2026
5 months ago
1207 views
Attorney-General Hon Chris Bishop has appointed Kerryn Beaton KC as a District Court Judge, with her swearing-in scheduled for 2 July 2026 in Christchurch. Ms Beaton has extensive legal experience, including roles as a Crown prosecutor, Public Defender, and barrister focusing on serious crime and public inquiries, as well as involvement in significant commissions such as the Pike River Royal Commission and the UN Khmer Rouge trials. She was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2021 and will be based at the Dunedin District Court.
18 Mar 2026
7 months ago
1121 views
The Government is extending the state redress scheme to cover survivors of abuse in State-run mental health inpatient facilities from 1 July 1993 to 30 June 2022, addressing gaps identified after Health New Zealand assumed responsibility in 2022. This change, prompted by survivors' difficulties in accessing recognition and redress, aims to provide consistent support and accountability regardless of when the abuse occurred. The amendment to the Redress System for Abuse in Care Bill is progressing through Parliament, reflecting the Government’s commitment to meaningful change and preventing future harm.
21 Oct 2025
1 year ago
1229 views
The Redress System for Abuse in Care Bill passed its first reading, focusing on recognizing abuse in care experiences and providing redress through financial payments, apologies, access to care records, and counseling services. The Bill introduces a framework for independent consideration of financial redress for survivors who have committed serious offenses, aiming to prevent the scheme from being brought into disrepute. The Bill has been referred to the Social Services and Community Select Committee for further review, encouraging input from survivors, advocates, and other stakeholders.