Royal Commission Inquiry

This page is dedicated to providing regular updates on our response to the Royal Commission Inquiry.

Read below for the latest updates or click on the links to read our Public Apology and response to the final report recommendations.

Published 19 November 2024

Response to Recommendation 131 of Whanaketia, the Royal Commission's final report

A review of the final report's recommendations, relevant to our organisation, has now been completed by PSUSI's senior leadership team. Each recommendation has been assessed for relevancy to the non-residential care services provided by Presbyterian Support today.

A copy of the review document, including planned actions can be found here. This is a ‘living document’ that will be regularly updated once actions are completed. Key policies noted throughout the document are currently being reviewed and strengthened. Links to these will be made available online once they are confirmed. If you would like a copy of any policy in the interim, please contact us.

We are committed to ensuring that the abuse and neglect of vulnerable people never happens again. Our response to these recommendations is only the first step in our journey towards righting the wrongs of the past and ensuring a safe, strong and more connected community for all.

Published 26 September 2024

Royal Commission Inquiry - Recommendation 130 Update

In our public apology published on 25 July 2024, we responded to Recommendation 130 of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care which called for government and faith-based institutions to publish their responses as to whether they accept the Inquiry’s findings.

We stated on 25th July 2024 that we deeply acknowledge and respect the findings and recommendations of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into historical abuse in state care and faith-based organisations from 1950-1999. We also confirmed that we are fully committed to embracing the recommendations made by the Inquiry to ensure the safe and appropriate care of all vulnerable people accessing our services now and in the future.

We wholeheartedly support the establishment of the independent Puretumu Torowhānui redress scheme, to help support survivors and their whānau affected by abuse in State and faith-based care and help prevent abuse in care.

While Presbyterian Support Upper South Island no longer provides any residential care services, Barry Helem, Co-CEO/Tumu Whakarae Tauiwi, and Kim Manahi, Co-CEO/Tumu Whakarae Māori, are leading a review of the Royal Commission’s final report recommendations with the Presbyterian Support Upper South Island senior leadership team. Each recommendation will be assessed for relevancy to the non-residential care services provided by Presbyterian Support today and current operational policies and processes will be reviewed and changed if needed to ensure they meet the standards outlined in the recommendations. This review is expected to be completed and published in November 2024 in response to Recommendation 131 of the Royal Commission’s final report.

Once again, we wish to reaffirm our deepest apologies for the abuse and neglect that occurred. This should never have happened and we are committed to ensuring these attrocities will never occur again. We will continue to listen and support survivors, and commend their incredible courage and bravery. If you, or a member of your whānau, has been harmed while in the care of our services, we urge you to come forward and contact us directly or to seek support from the New Zealand Police.

Published 25 July 2024

Presbyterian Support Upper South Island (PSUSI) Public Apology

We are so very sorry. Abuse in care should never have happened. We are dedicated to supporting survivors, and their whānau, as they journey towards healing and redress.

Presbyterian Support Upper South Island (PSUSI) deeply acknowledges and respects the findings and recommendations of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into historical abuse in state care and faith-based organisations from 1950-1999.

The Inquiry has confirmed disgraceful instances of neglect and abuse, and we are profoundly sorry for the harm inflicted upon vulnerable children and young people in care.

As an organisation entrusted with the care of children and young persons on behalf of the state during this period, we recognise and condemn the abuse and mistreatment that occurred.

This behaviour is utterly incompatible with our commitment to fostering an equitable, compassionate, and inclusive society, and directly contradicts our core values/kaimana korowai of aroha, whakawhanaungatanga, kotahitanga, tikanga, and kaitiakitanga.

We wish to acknowledge and tautoko the incredible courage and bravery of survivors who have testified and had to revisit these terrible traumas. We recognise that this should never have happened, and we are fully committed to embracing the recommendations made by the Inquiry to ensure the safe and appropriate care of all vulnerable people accessing our services now and in the future.

Barry Helem, Co-CEO/Tumu Whakarae Tauiwi, and Kim Manahi, Co-CEO/Tumu Whakarae Māori, also reaffirm our steadfast commitment to supporting survivors. "PSUSI has a zero-tolerance policy for any form of abuse, and we are dedicated to advocating for the protection of all vulnerable people. We extend our deepest apologies to those who suffered harm while in care and acknowledge the impact this has also had on survivor’s whānau and support networks. We will continue to listen, learn, and support survivors. We promise to do our utmost to help them towards a journey of healing and redress.”

Presbyterian Support is supportive of the establishment of the independent Puretumu Torowhānui redress scheme, to help support survivors and their whānau affected by abuse in State and faith-based care and help prevent abuse in care.

In the interim, if you, or a member of your whānau, has been harmed while in the care of our services, we urge you to come forward and speak with us directly or seek support from New Zealand Police.

Key Contact

Barry Helem
Co-CEO/Tumu Whakarae Tauiwi
Email: barryh@psusi.org.nz

Please click here to download a printable copy of this apology.

Published February 2021

Royal Commission Inquiry Abuse in Care

Presbyterian Support Upper South Island (PSUSI) welcomes the recommendations of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into historical abuse in state care and in the care of faith-based organisations during 1950-1999.

The Inquiry is looking into what abuse happened, why it happened, and what the impacts were.

Presbyterian Support Upper South Island was one of a number of organisations throughout New Zealand that provided care of children and young persons on behalf of the state during the period covered by the Royal Commission Terms of Reference.

Presbyterian Support Upper South Island Tumu Whakarae Tauiwi/CO-CEO, Barry Helem, says the organisation strongly condemns any form of abuse and is committed to its vision of an equitable, compassionate and inclusive society. He says they will continue to do their utmost to advocate for the protection of all vulnerable people.

“We are deeply committed to working with the Royal Commission of Inquiry and wish to acknowledge the hurt and pain that has been caused in the past to those in care. The abuse and mistreatment of children, young people and vulnerable adults was never ok, and this is certainly not who we are today. As these historical abuses have come to light, we have worked with the victims to apologise and support them as best we could. We will continue to work with the Royal Commission, and the survivors of abuse, and welcome any further recommendations we receive as a result of this Inquiry.”

Presbyterian Support Upper South Island requests that anyone who has experienced abuse through their connection with PSUSI care facilities, to make contact with them, to the Police, or the Royal Commission directly.

Presbyterian Support provides social and community services in seven regions around the country. The organisation works with people from cradle to grave to help them build strong families and supports people who are ageing and/or living with disability or injury. These services are offered by Presbyterian Support to all in the community regardless of age, ethnicity, background or gender.

Inquiries can be directed to Presbyterian Support Upper South Island Tumu Whakarae Tauiwi/Co-CEO, Barry Helem via email.