E Ihowā, tohungia mātou,

E Te Karaiti, tohungia mātou,

E Ihowā, tohungia mātou,

Ka nui ngā mihi ki ngā mate huhua puta noa o te motu, ko te inoi kia noho pai koutou e te hunga kua whetū rangitia ki ngā ringaringa atawhai a Te Karaiti, ā ki a tātau te hunga ora Māna anō e muru i ngā roimata katoa; ā kia kore ake he mamae, otirā kia māturuturu te tōmairangi atawhai o Te Tokotoru Tapu ki a koutou.

Tēnei mātou ko ngā hepara o te Hāhi e piko nei kei te hinapōuri, ka tangi, ka māringi i ngā roimata mō te hunga mōrehu. Tēnei mātau ka mihi atu nei ki a koutou i runga i te ngākau rīpenetā. Kotahi tonu te inoi ki te Atua, kia tau mai tōna Wairua aroha ki a koutou, ā Māna anō hoki mātou ko te hunga hara e ārahi ki ngā ara o te tika.

E te whānau a Te Karaiti, tēnā tātau.

The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care has released its report, which highlights abuse that occurred in Anglican communities in Aotearoa New Zealand between 1950-1999.

Please hold the survivors of abuse in your hearts and prayers – some of whom participated in the Inquiry, courageously sharing traumatic experiences for justice and change.

Our Archbishops Don Tamihere, Justin Duckworth and Sione Ulu’ilakepa have asked that we share this statement from them within each of our churches across Aotearoa New Zealand.

“We acknowledge and take full responsibility for our failures to provide the safe, caring and nurturing environment those who have been in our care had a right to expect and to receive.”

“Our apology at the Royal Commission to survivors of abuse was heartfelt and genuine and we can only stand in awe of their courage and endurance. We owe it to survivors to ensure that this Report is a catalyst for great change.

It is crucial that the whole Church takes direction and advice on this. We know that we still have a long way to go. 

We call on all who identify as Anglican; whether churches, schools or agencies to study this Report’s recommendations and to commit themselves to the principles and practices that ensure the highest standards of care.”

The archbishops have also reminded us of the safeguards we have in place to help make our church a safe space for everyone.

Anyone who is a survivor of historic abuse in the Anglican Church who wish to engage with the Church about that abuse are encouraged to email: contact@anglicanredress.nz

Anyone wishing to make a current complaint can contact the Ministry Standards Commission registrar by email on: registrar@ministrystandards.org 

The archbishops have shared the following prayers.

E te Atua Atawhai, tēnei mātau e koropiko ana
ki mua i tōu aroaro i runga i te ngākau pōuri.
Nā te mea, tē taea mātau i rongo, i kite,
Nā te waha ngū ka whakakino mātau i te ngā harakore me ngā ngoikore.
E te Ariki, whakakahangia rātou ko te hunga mōrehu,
Arahina mātou ki te tika.
E te Ariki, whakarongo mai ki tā mātau inoi.
Āmine

Merciful God, we come to you in sorrow.
We would not hear, we did not believe,
Our silence condemned the innocent and the powerless.
Lord, strengthen and empower the survivors now,
and align our hearts with your justice.
God, hear our prayer.
Amen

From Bishop Steve Maina:

In response to the recent findings by the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care, which have just been made public, I want to address our diocesan whānau.

I wholeheartedly endorse the archbishops' statement. The Report outlines a distressing history of abuse within both State and Faith-based institutions entrusted with the care of vulnerable individuals. As a diocese, we are deeply saddened and ashamed by these revelations. We recognise the immense pain suffered by the survivors and their families, and we acknowledge the lifelong impacts they have endured. Personally, as your bishop, I have read and heard several survivor stories and I am devastated and heartbroken. We deeply regret and are ashamed of this misconduct. I am certain that God also grieves alongside us.

Our Christian faith teaches us the values of compassion, justice, and respect for human dignity. It emphasises that children are a gift from God and must be cherished and nurtured in loving, safe environments, shielded from all forms of abuse. It is evident that as a national Church, we have collectively failed to uphold these principles, and we are committed to making amends and ensuring that such failures never recur. Before the release of this Report, we had already begun reviewing and enhancing our policies regarding safeguarding practices. These include:

• A commitment to walking alongside survivors on their path to healing. We support the call by survivor groups for the Government to establish an independent redress system.
• Rigorous screening of staff and volunteers, mandatory training in abuse prevention, and engagement with the recently  established Ministry Standard Commission to independently handle complains.
• Maintaining open communication with our community and the public, providing regular updates on our progress and the measures we are implementing to safeguard those under our care. We have a Ministry Standards Advisory group in the diocese that includes the voice of survivors.

I believe we need to do more and we must keep doing better especially in the area of survivor support and encouraging people to come forward with their testimony.  

In our response to the Report, we will seek to be guided by Scripture, particularly Isaiah 42:2-4, speaking of the Lord’s Servant:

He will not shout
   or raise his voice in public.
He will not crush the weakest reed
   or put out a flickering candle.
   He will bring justice to all who have been wronged.
He will not falter or lose heart
   until justice prevails throughout the earth.
   Even distant lands beyond the sea will wait for his instruction.

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Archbishop Philip Richardson addressed the Report in an interview on today's Morning Report, RNZ.