News

Survivors of abuse at the hands of Catholic clergymen have spoken of their shame, trauma and the struggle to get redress from New Zealand church leaders.  The first of 25 witnesses told the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State Care that after making a complaint, she was offered money rather than a meaningful…

A man who was sexually abused as a boy at St Patrick’s College, Silverstream only ever wanted the photographs of his abusers removed from the school’s hall, the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care has heard. Tina Cleary’s father, Patrick Cleary, was sexually abused by two priests when he was aged 12 at…

A man who was in both faith-based and state care wants the public to wake up to historical abuse and be concerned that it could still be happening. Darryl Smith, 57, first went into care at the age of seven at Marylands School in Christchurch, which was run by the Catholic St John of God…

A group representing survivors of abuse while in faith-based care believes victims could die before there is any satisfactory resolution to their claims against churches. The Network of Survivors of Abuse in Faith-based institutions wants an independent authority set up immediately to deal with claims for redress. Spokesperson Liz Tonks said survivors should not have…

The Catholic Church has lost its bid to keep the identities of perpetrators and those accused of covering up abuse secret at the upcoming Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry hearing. The hearing, beginning on Monday in Auckland, will hear from survivors of historical abuse in faith-based care, and the redress processes that followed.…

The chair of the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care, Judge Coral Shaw, today declined all but one of the non-publication applications made by lawyers acting for the Catholic Church, the Salvation Army and the Anglican Church. The applications asked to temporarily keep the names of deceased perpetrators of abuse surpressed. Steve Goodlass from the…

Teacher Edwin John Downing is on trial at the High Court in Auckland. He has denied 13 charges, including sexual violation, sexual conduct with a young person and sexually grooming a young person. The police interview of one of the two complainants was recorded on DVD and on Monday was played to the court. The…

Research reviewed as part of a rapid evidence assessment shows that being a victim and survivor of CSA is associated with an increased risk of adverse outcomes in all areas of victims and survivors’ lives. Additionally, long-term longitudinal research suggests that – in many cases – these adverse outcomes are not just experienced over the…

A new hub for Nelson’s homeless is expected to be up and running in a few months. The Male Room director, Philip Chapman, said the daytime shelter, called Whare Haumanu, was a “fantastic effort” from many people and organisations. Published on Stuff Whare Haumanu will be a 35 square metre building with a shower, toilet,…

Sam Thinks details their journey to self-love following sexual abuse during childhood. They share what they have learnt during the last ten years of therapy, which first involved dismantling their self-loathing inner voice, dubbed the ‘beast’. Published on PsychCentral Sam had initially rejected and even felt anger towards the notion of self-love as written about…

Australian Federal Police (AFP) have charged 44 men and removed 16 children from harm after investigators dismantled a national paedophile ring. Published on Stuff The alleged perpetrators – some of who stand accused of producing their own child abuse material – are now facing a combined 350 charges after a law enforcement referral sparked a…

The cost to the Crown of fighting claims by victims of abuse in state care is finally revealed before a Royal Commission. Aaron Smale calculates where most of the money went. Published on Newsroom Aaron Smale had been told by the Ministry of Social Development and Crown Law back in 2017 that it was too…