New Zealand’s leader formally apologizes to survivors of abuse in state and church care

Associated Press

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has made a “formal and unreserved” apology in Parliament for the abuse, torture and neglect of an estimated 200,000 children and vulnerable adults in care. Speaking to lawmakers and a public gallery packed with survivors, he said: “It was horrific. It was heartbreaking. It was wrong. And it should never have happened.” New Zealand’s inquiry found nearly a third of the people in state, foster and faith-based care were abused in a national population of 5 million. Those abused were disproportionately Māori. Luxon said his government was working on several of the inquiry’s recommendations. But he was decried by survivors for not divulging plans for compensation.