Abuse rife in New Zealand state care: royal commission

On Wednesday, the government released reports into the five-year investigation, which concluded more than 200,000 young New Zealanders were subject to abuse.

The commission described its findings as "a stain on our national character".

"It is a national disgrace that hundreds of thousands of children, young people and adults were abused and neglected in the care of the state and faith‐based institutions," it reads.

To victims advocates like Ken Clearwater, who dedicated his life to assisting others after being sexually assaulted by a pedophile at age 12, the stories are shocking but not surprising.

He described testimony as "like listening to a Stephen King novel, some of the horrendous stuff that was done to these kids".

The commission heard from 2400 survivors across hundreds of public and private sessions, producing a 3000-page report weighing 14kg.

One chapter, a 348-page survivors book, offers dozens of victims the space to re-tell their stories.

Mr Clearwater said it was a common experience for abused children to have their testimony ignored, and the commission would offer the chance to be heard and believed.

"Nearly every person that I've worked with - men and women - have never been believed," he told Newstalk ZB.

"(They are told) 'Don't lie, a priest wouldn't do that' or 'Don't lie, that wouldn't happen to you in a boys home, you wouldn't get raped or tortured or electrocuted'.

"This is an opportunity to validate actually what's happened to these kids."

Prime Minister Chris Luxon has announced a national apology to victims on November 12.

"I say to the survivors, the burden is no longer yours to carry alone," he said in parliament.

"The state is now standing here beside you, accountable and ready to take action."

However, in a differing approach to his predecessor Jacinda Ardern, who immediately pledged to enact all recommendations of the royal commission to the Christchurch Mosques terror attacks, Mr Luxon held back.

In a press conference on Wednesday, he argued the 138 recommendations, which include broad reforms of government, sentencing, the creation of a new "care safe" agency and law, required further thought.

"This report was six years in the making. The response cannot be rushed. It needs to be considered with respect and care," Mr Luxon said.

The government is prioritising a redress scheme, which is expected to cost hundreds of millions of dollars, if not billions.

"I regret that that is not something that we can give you today but it is a priority for the government in the coming months," he said in parliament.

The royal commission includes recommendations to open or reopen criminal investigations into abuse allegations.

Another recommendation is to investigate unmarked graves at psychiatric hospitals, believed to contain the bodies of hundreds of children.

Scores descended on parliament across Wednesday to mark the tabling of the royal commission, including survivors and family members.

Many were granted access to parliament's public galleries for speeches given by leaders, the air thick with emotion.

Mr Luxon granted one group - patients at the notorious Lake Alice facility - an apology for their suffering.

Hundreds of children were admitted to the psychiatric hospital in the 1970s, where retributive and experimental treatment included electric shocks without anaesthetics.

"To the survivors of Lake Alice - some of whom are here today - thank you for your determination to ensure what you suffered was brought to light," Mr Luxon said.

"What happened was wrong. You knew then it was wrong, and all these years later, the state also acknowledges it was wrong.

"Today, I humbly stand before you in this house to offer a long overdue apology to the survivors of Lake Alice. I am sorry that it has taken so long for this acknowledgement of torture."

As is common after weighty debates in New Zealand's parliament, the galleries broke into karakia - or Maori song - after his speech.

Australian Associated Press