Abuse survivors call government apology 'hollow' two years on

Survivors of abuse in care say their fight is not finished, as they mark two years since the Crown's apology.

A small crowd gathered in front of Parliament to acknowledge the anniversary of the government's apology to those who were abused in state and faith-based care.

Attendees tied ribbons to a barricade, each one representing someone who was abused, including those who died before the apology was made.

Survivor and advocate Ken Clearwater told those present that a lot of angry survivors still needed help and support, and re-iterated a call for an independent redress system.

Clearwater said the apology two years ago was hollow.

"Survivors stand here today, because the apology has fallen short."

Erica Stanford, the lead co-ordination minister for the government's response to the Royal Commission of Inquiry, said she recognised an apology could not undo what had happened, nor could it take away the pain and lasting impacts experienced by survivors.

"For many, that harm continues to affect their lives every day," she said. "We must never lose sight of that.

"As a government, our responsibility does not end with an apology. We must continue to learn from the failures of the past and turn those lessons into meaningful, lasting change."

Stanford was not at the event, but National's James Meager told those gathered that members of Parliament were "united" in their support for survivors.

"Do know that, when it comes to this kaupapa, we are united as members of Parliament in our support for you, for survivors and for making sure that we heal as much damage that has happened in the past as we can."

Christopher Longhurst, national leader of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, expressed disappointment in Meager's speech and disagreed that political parties were united.

Longhurst said parties were "diametrically opposed", as Labour wanted an independent redress system, which survivors also wanted - but National did not.

"To be united in what you say and not united in what you do is not helpful," he said.

Longhurst said the New Zealand response had been the weakest "across the board", calling it "embarrassing", compared to how other states had responded.

"They're making history, but they're making very bad history, but things will change, we hope."

Labour's Lemauga Lydia Sosene and the Greens' Kahurangi Carter also addressed the survivors, with Carter saying the Greens had committed to implementing all the recommendations from the Royal Commission of Inquiry in its manifesto.

Commissioner Paul Gibson also said the abuse suffered in New Zealand was worse than in other countries that had similar inquiries.

"I thought, before I came to the inquiry, I knew what had happened. Everywhere we looked, things were worse than what we could have imagined."

Gibson said the "vision" of the survivors who came to the inquiry had not yet been built.

"I don't, as yet, feel you are behind us and united behind us, as survivors, in delivering meaningful redress and delivering the recommendations of the inquiry, and preventing children, adults at risk from being abused now and in the future."

Survivor Keith Wiffin told RNZ that the response since the report's release and the apology had been disappointing, and people were frustrated.

"The sentiments expressed in the apologies have been hollow. They've meant not a lot, and promises have been broken yet again, survivors betrayed and the investment in the Royal Commission by the taxpayers of this country, by the good people of this country, has also been dishonoured."

Where to get help