- Warning – this story concerns allegations of child sexual abuse
Prime Minister and Botany MP Christopher Luxon is urging the victims of an alleged 1980s central Government paedophile ring to contact police.
His comments this week follow the public release of the almost 3000-word report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry’s Report into Abuse in Care.
Part of the document details an investigation into allegations of organised sexual abuse of children in State care settings.
“In its early stages, the Inquiry received allegations about organised child sexual abuse or a ‘paedophile ring’ by former central Government politicians in social welfare settings in the Horowhenua area in the 1980s,” the report states.
“The Inquiry began a separate and confidential investigation into the allegations because of a concern that survivors and witnesses may not come forward to the Inquiry out of fear of retribution, or that there would be a ‘cover up’ if alleged abusers became aware of the investigation.
“The scope of the investigation later broadened to include all allegations of organised abuse of children and young people in State care by people in public positions of power and influence.”
The investigation considered seven broad allegations including the transportation of children and young people from social welfare residences and institutions and other State care residences and institutions to private locations.
It’s alleged at the private locations the victims were sexually abused by former central Government politicians and prominent public servants.
Other allegations include missing children and young people from social welfare residences and institutions had been buried under trees or dumped in a lake, groups of men being brought into a psychopaedic hospital to sexually abuse non-speaking girls in care, abuse of children and young people in care by former central Government politicians in Auckland, and the abuse of children and young people in care at an Auckland brothel.
The Inquiry report says investigating the allegations was challenging.
“The investigation team conducted witness interviews throughout New Zealand with people who had registered with the Inquiry, but also with others who had not.
“Care was taken in approaching potential witnesses directly to obtain sensitive information, and significant time was spent building trust with these potential witnesses.
“Often, several meetings or interviews would be held with witnesses before they felt comfortable sharing aspects of their experiences that were relevant to these matters.
“Other investigation methods were also used, including research of historical records and notices issued under section 20 of the Inquiries Act to NZ Police, Oranga Tamariki and the Ministry of Social Development requesting relevant information.
“The Inquiry located one witness with first-hand direct evidence of such organised abuse of children and young people in social welfare care settings.
“Most witnesses spoke to the Inquiry of hearing about organised abuse from others, which was sometimes second or third-hand information.
“Attempts to corroborate the information from people named to the Inquiry as being survivors of such abuse were unsuccessful.
“Many of the leads that were followed up did not result in evidence of organised abuse.
“Several people named by others as survivors or as having relevant information had died or were too unwell to speak to the Inquiry, and some were unable to be located.
“In other instances, the information provided indicated that organised abuse may have occurred, but no survivors could be identified.”
Another key difficulty was that some people who may have held relevant information didn’t want to provide a witness statement or survivor account because they were fearful of repercussions due to the powerful position formerly or still held by their alleged abuser.
“This included beliefs NZ Police were aware of the paedophile rings at the time and had not investigated them.
“It was clear some people did not trust the Inquiry’s processes, including its ability to protect the confidentiality and safety of individuals who shared information.
“Ultimately none of the allegations of organised group abuse in State care settings described above were able to be substantiated by direct evidence.”
Luxon was asked about this aspect of the Inquiry report during a press conference in Auckland this week.
He said while the report raised some serious concerns it wasn’t able to find any evidence to support the allegations relating to the alleged paedophile ring.
“On that particular issue … there were deep concerns about those allegations but the Royal Commission of Inquiry itself was unable to make a finding on that because there wasn’t substantiated evidence,” he said.
“I encourage everyone and anyone, where you’ve seen or experienced abuse … for many it is traumatising to go back through the process again.
“We are working through the survivors’ experiences … to make sure they can have access to their own record that they’ve submitted to the inquiry.
”We do encourage people to come forward to police so they can fairly go through a process of investigation.”
