Latest news with #RoyalCommissionofInquiry
NZ Herald
4 days ago
- Politics
- NZ Herald
King's Birthday Honours 2025: Abuse survivor accepts honour, slams Government on redress
The Government's rejection of a Royal Commission of Inquiry recommendation on how Kiwis abused in state and faith-based care should be compensated is an 'insult', but won't stop him accepting a King's Birthday Honour, a survivor says. Chris Longhurst has been made a companion of the King's Service
Otago Daily Times
27-05-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Gloriavale offer of apology to abuse victims a 'PR stunt'
By Jean Edwards of RNZ Gloriavale's public offer to personally apologise to victims of abuse at the Christian community on the West Coast has been exposed as a PR stunt after leaders refused to say sorry, former members say. Leavers have shared details of email exchanges between former member Gideon Benjamin, Gloriavale servant Peter Righteous and lawyers with RNZ, showing Benjamin's request for an apology was rejected because he would not meet in secrecy. In January, Gloriavale's Overseeing Shepherd Howard Temple delivered a public apology on behalf of the church for abuse at the community between 1950 and 1999, following a Royal Commission of Inquiry recommendation in July last year. "We offer our deepest apologies that abuse had occurred in this time period," Temple said. "We invite victims to request a personal apology from the leadership on behalf of the Church for not reporting known cases of abuse to appropriate authorities." Benjamin wrote to Gloriavale's leaders the same day requesting a personal apology for allowing his father, who was jailed last year, to "abuse people for 30 years and not getting him the help that he needed" or dealing with him appropriately. When he did not receive a response to repeated emails, Benjamin threatened to visit Gloriavale to verbally demand an apology. Righteous then replied, warning any trip would be pointless because he was suing current community members. "The path forward is not going to be assisted by you turning up in our community seeking an apology in respect to your father," he wrote. "In your case, you have active proceedings against the leaders making very serious allegations against us. We are not therefore prepared to meet with you on any terms, much less to discuss issues that are directly raised by you in your claim against us." Benjamin was a plaintiff in a multimillion-dollar class action lawsuit filed against Gloriavale and five government agencies by former members who claimed they were held as slaves from birth by the community's leaders. Benjamin's lawyer then requested an apology on his behalf - in private - with the offer of a confidentiality agreement. Gloriavale agreed to a meeting with Temple, proposing that "they each agree they will not disclose or discuss with any person or entity (other than those present) any content of the meeting, including any personal details, responses, acknowledgements or outcomes". Benjamin sought amendments that would allow him to tell current and former members that he had received an apology from the leadership, although the details were to remain confidential. "Gideon's position is Howard's apology was made public so why should the fact he received/did not receive an apology be kept secret," an email said. However, Benjamin's request was ultimately rejected in a final email last month; "The terms counter proposed for the meeting are not acceptable to our client. The meeting with Gideon will therefore not proceed". Benjamin, 26, was born into Gloriavale but left in March 2023. When approached for comment, the father-of-four told RNZ he gave the leaders every chance to keep their word. "I wanted to be able to say that I gave them every opportunity. It was pretty insane, the lengths I went to. Most people probably would have given up. I felt like it a few times," he said. "If they had been totally different and showed a true heart of repentance, that would have quite honestly shaken my brain. It would have been mind-blowing. Really all they did was just prove me right. They haven't changed. "It's just called them out as liars." Benjamin said he could not accept an apology in secret. "I want the truth to be heard, that's all. For so long there have been too many secrets, cover-ups, things just swept under the carpet. I've had enough of secrets." He had planned to offer leaders his forgiveness at the end of the meeting, although he said that did not mean he would abandon court proceedings. "I was going to tell them that I forgive them, that the Christian thing for me to do was to forgive. "I can forgive them but I won't stand by and allow wrong to keep happening. It's my job as a human being and as a Christian to stand up for what's right and that doesn't interfere with forgiveness." Gloriavale did not respond to RNZ's request for comment. Former Gloriavale member Virginia Courage said the leaders' response showed their offer was not genuine. "It just looks to me like they were doing another PR stunt. What are you trying to do to this person, traumatise them more?" "An apology is something that's given freely. The acknowledgement and them taking responsibility is what will actually show leavers that Gloriavale has changed and that Gloriavale might be safe for the rest of our families inside. "A real apology isn't just words, it's what comes after those words. If the apology was backed up by action, they would stop fighting in court." Another Gloriavale leaver, who wished to remain anonymous, described the leaders' offer as a "box-ticking exercise" with a "nonsense" confidentiality agreement seemingly designed to protect them in court. "You don't ask someone to come to you. You know that these people are upset, you go, you find them." Gloriavale Leavers' Support Trust manager Liz Gregory said decisions about apologies were personal matters for leavers. In July 2024, the government was urged to do everything it could to ensure the safety of Gloriavale members and their children as a result of Royal Commission findings that leaders allowed physical and sexual abuse at the community. The Abuse in Care inquiry found the Overseeing Shepherd and senior leaders at fault for failing to prevent abuse and protect survivors, and inappropriately handling perpetrators, allowing them to remain at Gloriavale and continue offending. Temple was facing 27 charges of sexual offending against 10 girls over a period of more than 20 years and would face a judge-alone trial in Greymouth.
New Straits Times
25-05-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Kangar council supports reopening of Wang Kelian border market
KANGAR: The Kangar Municipal Council (MPKangar) supports proposals to revitalise cross-border trade and tourism at Wang Kelian, nearly a decade after the discovery of mass graves that shocked the nation. The proposed initiatives follow sweeping security enhancements implemented after the 2015 discovery of mass graves in Wang Burma, believed to be victims of human trafficking. The incident prompted the discontinuation of the free-flow border mechanism in the area. MPKangar president Affendi Rajini Kanth said the council is optimistic that the Special Area Plan will clearly define jurisdictional boundaries between the Forest Department and MPKangar, allowing for better coordination in managing the area. "We are hoping the Special Area Plan will segregate responsibilities between the Forest Department and MPKangar, enabling the reactivation of the Wang Kelian-Wang Prachan border market (Nat)," he told the New Straits Times when contacted. Affendi said that the mass graves and remains found in the area have since been relocated and reburied in Kampung Tualang, Pokok Sena. "The case happened in 2015 and was the main reason for the discontinued free-flow arrangement at the Wang Kelian-Wang Prachan border," he said. He noted that, based on findings from the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI), the Wang Burma area is now free of any remnants related to the incident. Last year, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced an allocation to upgrade the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex at Wang Kelian. The improvements include enhanced fencing, floodlights, high-definition CCTVs, and drone surveillance to prevent similar incidents from recurring. Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail also voiced support for reviving the free-flow zone but added that security would not be compromised. He said stricter regulations would be enforced when the zone reopens. In 2023, Perlis Menteri Besar Mohd Shukri Ramli said Wang Kelian would be developed as a border town under the Special Area Plan framework led by the Town and Country Planning Department (PLANMalaysia). Meanwhile, Affendi said MPKangar remains focused on supporting efforts to revitalise the border town's economy while awaiting federal approval of the Special Area Plan. "We leave it to the authorities to approve the plan. Only then can we move forward," he said. The Wang Kelian border crossing was once a vibrant weekend marketplace. Thousands of visitors contributed significantly to the local economy before security concerns brought activity to a halt. In 2015, then Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar confirmed the discovery of 139 graves and camps linked to human trafficking along the Malaysia-Thailand border. In 2019, then Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced the formation of a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to investigate the Wang Kelian human trafficking case in depth.
Scoop
22-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
New Disability Support Investment A Boost For Providers
Press Release – NZDSN Quality support needs sustainable funding, its as simple as that. For Disability Support Providers whove negotiated restrictions and uncertainty while last years Independent Review recommendations were being worked through, this is very welcome, … The Budget's $240m in new funding over four years for disability residential support is a good start and should help make quality support available to more disabled New Zealanders, says the New Zealand Disability Support Network. The uplift in funding for High and Complex services, funding to meet demand and inflationary pressures across the disability support service portfolio and funding to address the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in care recommendations are also positive and welcome. 'Quality support needs sustainable funding, it's as simple as that. For Disability Support Providers who've negotiated restrictions and uncertainty while last year's Independent Review recommendations were being worked through, this is very welcome,' said Debbie Hughes, NZDSN CEO. NZDSN is optimistic that sector financial constraints starting to be lifted from 1 July will be a boost for providers and the disabled people they support. 'This is potentially great news, we're looking forward to hearing more about how this will work. There's lots more to do in our sector, and we're keen to work with government to get it done.' 'Since the independent review recommendations were announced last year, there's been lots of consultation and work behind the scenes. The uplift in funding shows the Government listened to the sector during consultation, so we expect providers to be heartened by today's announcements of some tangible support,' said Debbie Hughes.
Scoop
22-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
New Disability Support Investment A Boost For Providers
The Budget's $240m in new funding over four years for disability residential support is a good start and should help make quality support available to more disabled New Zealanders, says the New Zealand Disability Support Network. The uplift in funding for High and Complex services, funding to meet demand and inflationary pressures across the disability support service portfolio and funding to address the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in care recommendations are also positive and welcome. 'Quality support needs sustainable funding, it's as simple as that. For Disability Support Providers who've negotiated restrictions and uncertainty while last year's Independent Review recommendations were being worked through, this is very welcome,' said Debbie Hughes, NZDSN CEO. NZDSN is optimistic that sector financial constraints starting to be lifted from 1 July will be a boost for providers and the disabled people they support. 'This is potentially great news, we're looking forward to hearing more about how this will work. There's lots more to do in our sector, and we're keen to work with government to get it done.' 'Since the independent review recommendations were announced last year, there's been lots of consultation and work behind the scenes. The uplift in funding shows the Government listened to the sector during consultation, so we expect providers to be heartened by today's announcements of some tangible support,' said Debbie Hughes.
