WelCom April 2024
Te Rōpū Tautoko is the group coordinating Catholic engagement with the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care. Tautoko recently reported the commission is due to present its final report to the Governor-General by 28 March 2024. If that date is met, the report will likely be available to the public in early to mid-April.
After the report has been presented to the Governor General, the Governor General releases it to the Government and the responsible Minister decides on when to table it in Parliament. Only when this occurs does the report become public and the Inquiry can publish it on their website. As soon as the report is available to the public Tautoko will add it to its website.
Based on the hearings and process the Inquiry has undertaken, Tautoko assumes the report will respond closely to the Inquiry’s Terms of Reference and sections, such as: looking back at the context of care; factors that contributed and contribute to abuse; impacts of abuse and failure to act; case studies; findings; recommendations.
Church leaders are supportive of the Inquiry and the need for it. Hearing survivors share their experiences and having their voices heard has been a crucial element of the Royal Commission’s work. In 2018 when the Inquiry was established, the terms of reference only included State care. Many people asked the Inquiry to broaden the terms of reference, including Catholic bishops and congregational leaders. This occurred and the subsequent five years of work will result in the final report. The Catholic Church in New Zealand is ready to review the commission’s final report and consider the recommendations that arise from it during the Inquiry.
For further information visit tautoko.catholic.org.nz