There’s disappointment among care-experienced rangatahi after the government opted against setting up a new compensation scheme for survivors of abuse in state care - instead choosing to sink more money into the current system.

VOYCE - Whakarongo Mai has been advocating for those care experienced tamariki since 2017, and CEO Tracie Shipton says it goes against what the Prime Minister promised during November’s apology to survivors.

“The government's actions completely contradict the Royal Commission and Redress Design Group’s recommendation, which now leaves many survivors concerned about what it will do with the rest of the other recommendations.”

“Christopher Luxon said a new single redress system would be operating this year, but that’s not the case, and now an already vulnerable group of young people are feeling even more vulnerable.”

The government announced this month's budget will commit $774 million to improving the current redress system and make changes that will endeavour to "prevent, identify, and respond to abuse in the future".

“It’s promising to hear that there is a focus on strengthening the system, but those words are hollow when they’re wrapped up in an announcement that goes against everything that was guaranteed last year.”

Care-experienced advocate Ihorangi Reweti Peters says the care-experienced community has been let down.

“It’s just another broken promise by this government, and I’m really angry that they aren’t following the very clearly mapped out path laid out for them by the Royal Commission.”

Attention now turns to the government’s full response to the Royal Commission’s recommendations which are expected in the coming weeks.

“The wait for that will feel like a lifetime for many survivors who are already feeling let down about this latest announcement. There will be a real fear that the remaining recommendations will be treated the same way” says Shipton.

“The bottom line is that we can’t have any meaningful change without all 138 recommendations being implemented.”

Shipton says that means going well beyond just financial compensation.

“While financial compensation is a crucial component of support for those with lived experience on their healing journeys, it must be accompanied by ongoing support, such as therapy and healthcare services. Without these additional measures, financial compensation alone risks being perceived as merely a payout rather than meaningful redress."

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