When: Wednesday, Nov 12
Where: Ellen Melville Centre, Freyberg Place, Auckland City

On Wednesday November 12, survivors of abuse in State and Faith-based care are gathering at the Ellen Melville Centre in Freyberg Place, Auckland City for The National Day of Remembrance, one year on from the Government’s apology following New Zealand’s largest Royal Commission of Inquiry.

Twelve months ago heads of Government ministries, the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition apologised to survivors for the abuse and neglect they experienced in care. Those apologies marked an important moment of recognition and acknowledgement, and now, a year on, survivors are coming together again to reflect on the abuse while in care and on those who have passed away.

The Citizens Commission on Human Rights (NZ) and Te Ata with support from the New Zealand Collective of Abused in State Care Trust joined together to put on the event at the Ellen Melville Centre on the 12th which will run from 10am to 4pm.

The day will feature talks by survivors as well as screenings of three powerful films — Mental Notes, Stolen Children of Aotearoa, and Crazy Happy — each revealing a different part of what it means to be a survivor of abuse while in care.

At 12 PM, there will be a one minute of silence for survivors who have passed away. A Remembrance Wall will honour their names and stories, holding space for the voices that carried the truth when no one wanted to hear it.

New displays from the Citizens Commission on Human Rights NZ will also be shown for the first time. These displays are part of the collective effort to keep the truth visible as they show the extent of human rights abuse and torture in psychiatric care in Aotearoa New Zealand. The panels show what happened at Lake Alice Hospital and the torture of children as well as psychiatric experiments using electroshocks, lobotomies, deep sleep and LSD.

The event will also include the presentation of the inaugural Anne Helm Memorial Award for Dedication to Survivors, recognising Anne’s lifelong work to highlight psychiatric abuse and advocate for change within mental health services in New Zealand.

“This commemoration isn’t only for survivors, it’s a call to everyone who believes in justice, truth, and compassion. The events all around New Zealand on Wednesday 12th are more than moments of ceremony — they are expressions of visibility, strength, and solidarity in a country that too often looked away. If you work alongside survivors, support them as whānau, or simply care about this kaupapa, your role is to show up and listen. Don’t come to speak for survivors — come to witness, to learn, and to stand with them” - Mike Ferriss, Director CCHR NZ

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