New Zealand Confronts a Dark Legacy: 200,000 Abused in Care Institutions

A comprehensive inquiry in New Zealand has uncovered a harrowing legacy of abuse, revealing that nearly a third of children and vulnerable adults in state, foster, and faith-based care institutions were abused over a span of five decades, from 1950 to 1999. The Royal Commission of Inquiry, a six-year investigation, has termed the findings an 'unthinkable national catastrophe,' with the number of abused individuals estimated at 200,000. The abuse, described as 'unimaginable,' occurred in a range of settings, including orphanages and mental health institutions. This report has prompted a national reckoning, with the government and various institutions facing calls for accountability and reparations for the survivors.