Today is the Abuse In Care apology in Parliament.
I am not a survivor of abuse in care.
But a number of the women of the Aunties whānau are.
Adopted to pākeha families who then neglected them, and emotionally and physically abused them.
Sent to foster homes where they were sexually and physically assaulted.
Sent to live in orphanages, or group “care” homes where they were mistreated, and assaulted.
Some think of this abuse as historic, but it is still going on today. In foster homes, in group “care”, in our youth facilities.
To all who have survived these horrors, and to those children who still do, I say, on behalf of everyone who is associated with this organisation, we are sorry.
Sorry that this happened, and is happening to you.
You didn’t ask for this.
You didn’t and do not deserve it, and we know you will have to spend a lifetime healing from this. The system has failed you. They pretended they were there to protect you, but they were, and are, not.
We send you love, and thank you for telling your stories so that other survivors may know they are not alone. That the system, not broken, but designed to do what it did, is not capable of providing the love and care you needed, and need.
It is our belief that it needs to be burned to the ground and more appropriate solutions be found for vulnerable children.
Many of you who told your stories were ripped away from your whānau for specious reasons. This leaves generations of hurt and trauma.
We recognise and acknowledge the racism inherent in the system of “care and protection” for children in this country.
And we continue to fight against it.
Peace and love to you all.