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Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care report
10 Jun 2025
Posted: 26 July 2024
Note: If you have any questions about the Royal Commission of Inquiry, please email us at: privacy.officer@kotakureo.school.nz
The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care released its final report on Wednesday 24 July. The report is available on the Royal Commission’s website at www.abuseincare.org.nz.
Kelston School for the Deaf and van Asch College are both named in the Commission’s report. Some former students who experienced bullying, abuse and neglect at the schools shared this with the Royal Commission of Inquiry. In 2020 Kelston and van Asch were combined into one national school, Ko Taku Reo – Deaf Education New Zealand.
This report highlights a sad chapter in the history of Deaf Education in Aotearoa New Zealand, and we want to acknowledge the people who bravely shared their experiences and the people who have supported them to be heard.
As the kaitiaki of Deaf Education in New Zealand, we again apologise to the survivors and their families and whānau.
Ko Taku Reo is committed to playing our part in creating a safe Aotearoa New Zealand for Deaf and hard of hearing students and we have policies and practices in place to support this.
Prior to 1989, responsibility for the care and wellbeing of students rested with the Ministry of Education. For the period after 1989, when a Board of Trustees was in place, Dr Denise Powell issued an apology on behalf of the School as part of the Abuse in Care Royal Commission process. That apology is included in the Commission’s final report.
The Ministry of Education has also issued a broader apology to survivors relating to the period when it was directly responsible.
Prime Minister's formal apology video:
Watch on YouTube