WELLINGTON: Some 200,000 New Zealanders held in care were abused over decades, a public inquiry has revealed, prompting an apology from the country’s prime minister who vowed reform. The authors of the report described widespread abuse in state care and faith-based institutions as an “unthinkable national catastrophe” that caused “unimaginable harm”. Throughout the six-year investigation, dozens of victims gave harrowing testimony about physical, sexual and mental abuse suffered in orphanages, foster homes, psychiatric hospitals and other institutions. The “Abuse of Care” royal commission found that “of the estimated 655,000 children,…
New Zealand to apologise after inquiry reveals widespread child abuse
