Royal Commission’s ‘mock’ sessions with survivors
Survivors of abuse in state care have been blindsided by the Royal Commission investigating their treatment holding ‘mock’ interviews with them about their experiences as a practice run ahead of…
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From the Chairman’s desk, June 2019
Kia ora koutou As we close out another successful financial year there is much to reflect on and much to celebrate. We have come a long way since we formed…
‘My art is my salvation’
A former Dunedin man abused by two different offenders within the Catholic Church says a love of art has helped him heal. Michael Haggie, who now lives in Whanganui, has…
Male sexual abuse advocate honoured for work with fellow survivors
Opening up about being raped as a 12-year-old saved Ken Clearwater from killing himself or somebody else. Since first publicly sharing his own story nearly 30 years ago, Clearwater has…
Abuse survivors outraged it took 15 years to defrock paedophile priest
Survivors of sexual abuse say they are outraged it took more than 15 years to defrock a paedophile priest after he was convicted. Former Dunedin priest Magnus (Max) Murray has…
Abusive priest is defrocked
Victims of a paedophile priest from Dunedin are breathing a sigh of relief as 50 years of torment finally comes to an end. Bishop of Hamilton Steve Lowe yesterday confirmed…
Otago men to assist commission
Four Otago men who survived sexual abuse or physical violence while in care have been included in a new Survivor Advisory Group to help guide a pending Royal Commission. The…
Hundreds of millions promised to ‘break the cycle of family and sexual violence’
The Government will spend $320 million on a package of initiatives aimed preventing family and sexual violence and breaking the cycle of violence. The pre-Budget announcement is, according to Prime…
Ministry of Social Development newsletter – Family Violence and Sexual Violence Service Provider Update
Family Violence and Sexual Violence Service Provider Update – Special Budget Edition Kia ora koutou, Welcome to this special Budget edition of our newsletter. In this update you’ll find information…
Brutal lesson: story of abuse by Dunedin nun
A dying Dunedin man tells Chris Morris his story of a savage beating he received as a 10-year-old ‘‘cheeky little Catholic boy’’ at the hands of a nun. Russell Butler…
Pope decrees bishops must be directly accountable for sex abuse or cover-ups
Pope Francis issued a landmark decree on Thursday making bishops directly accountable for sexual abuse or covering it up, requiring clerics to report any cases to Church superiors and allowing…
Government sets out how it will respond to historical state abuse inquiry
Minister for State Services Chris Hipkins said he would lead the Crown’s response to the inquiry. Setting out the principles was an important step in rebuilding trust between the government…
Three brave male survivors of childhood sexual abuse speak about what they endured, and how they are healing
The Harvey Weinstein saga exposed an ugly side of our culture. TVNZ’s Sunday hears from some male victims. Watch the video on the TVNZ website. By Sunday (1 News now)…
Report criticises Govt underfunding of sexual violence support and prevention
Government underfunding leaves organisations supporting victims of sexual violence to fundraise millions to stay afloat, a new report has found. On Tuesday, Action Station released its report, For the Wellbeing…
Japan Catholic Church to begin investigating sex abuse allegations
The Catholic Church in Japan is preparing to investigate allegations of sexual abuse against minors by its priests, including accusations from 20 years ago, officials said Thursday. The Catholic Bishops’…
Nearly 8,000 Alleged Child Abusers Identified In Boy Scouts’ Files, Review Finds
An expert hired by the Boy Scouts of America to review allegations of child sexual abuse within the organization identified 7,819 alleged abusers among its leaders and volunteers dating back…
Male survivors and victims of abuse deserve their own support system
Last month, the remarkable documentary Abused by My Girlfriend showed BBC viewers the depths of suffering that can be experienced by male victims of intimate violence. Alex Skeel was beaten,…
‘I know I’ll never see justice’: Man speaks out about being raped in the army showers
Graphic warning: This content may be distressing for some readers. Terry King, 65, was gang-raped in the Burnham Military Camp showers in 1975. He has told his harrowing story for…
‘Brutalised inside and then I had to live with that shame’
This story discusses graphic details of a violent nature. Two sexual abuse survivors from Burnham Military Camp near Christchurch have spoken publicly about the horrors they endured. Published in Radio…
April 2019 ‘Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in Care’ Newsletter
You can download the Royal Commission’s April 2019 newsletter below. Download newsletter (PDF)
Using Peer Support in Developing Empowering Mental Health Services (UPSIDES): Background, Rationale and Methodology
Peers are people with lived experience of mental illness. Peer support is an established intervention in which peers offer support to others with mental illness. A large proportion of people…
The Male Survivors Partnership Hosts Inaugural Symposium
The Male Survivors Partnership (MSP), a national umbrella agency for organisations working with boys and men affected by unwanted sexual attention, has held its inaugural symposium in Manchester. Published in…
Social media firms to be penalised for not removing child abuse
New laws proposed to tackle social media companies streaming child abuse, extremism, terrorist attacks and cyberbullying have been welcomed by senior police and children’s charities. Launched on Monday, the Online…
Call for Sir Anand to resign from commission
A survivor abused as an altar boy by a Catholic priest in Dunedin is adding his voice to fresh calls for the chairman of the royal commission into historic abuse…