Outrage after Catholic Church leader allegedly justified abuse
A woman molested as a five-year-old girl by a high-profile Catholic theologian is outraged at a church leader justifying his abuse. A Catholic leader is accused of telling a woman…
Two survivors quit Royal Commission advisory group
Two abuse survivors have quit a Royal Commission advisory group in fallout from being unknowingly exposed to a paedophile. The two men accuse the new chair Judge Coral Shaw of…
Altar boys say they were abused by priests at the Vatican
Former altar boys have claimed they were molested by priests inside the Vatican, as a lingering scandal surrounding widespread abuse in the Catholic Church erupts at its headquarters once again….
‘You ruined me’: New Zealand’s abuse survivors speak at landmark inquiry
Survivors are given a voice at first public hearings of investigation into historical abuse of thousands of children in state and faith-based care. On the morning Annasophia Calman is due…
Victims of child sex abuse still face significant legal barriers suing churches – here’s why
Following the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, we are witnessing a wave of legal reforms across Australia aimed at helping survivors seek justice. Most visibly, there…
Rape Crisis renamed; OCASA to work with all genders
For the first time in its four-decade history, Dunedin’s Rape Crisis centre will work with sexual abuse victims of all genders. The shift is part of a major overhaul of…
Ribbons tied to fence of Catholic Cathedral to honour victims of abuse
Ribbons have been tied to the fence of the Catholic Cathedral in downtown Auckland by attendees and witnesses from the Royal Commission into Abuse. Published in Radio New Zealand
Majority of sexual violence incidents reported to police are children or young people
The majority of 23,000 sexual violence incidents reported to police during the past five years were experienced by children or young people, according to a new Ministry of Justice report….
Royal Commission hearings: Children’s Commissioner says state care has failed
The Children’s Commissioner has told the Abuse in Care Royal Commission that his office has failed to properly monitor the state care system. Since 1989, the Office of the Children’s…
Royal Commission hearing: Psychologist says some children better off in state care
A clinical child psychologist has told the Royal Commission on Abuse in Care that children were often better off in state care than staying in families where they were abused….
Survivor raped multiple times in care despite concerns raised
A woman has told the Royal Commission investigating abuse in care she was moved between at least a dozen care homes and raped multiple times – all before she turned…
Samoa Methodist minister faces 10 charges over sexual allegations
Samoa police have finalised criminal charges against a 51-year-old reverend of the Methodist Church, Tugia Tuliau, who is facing 10 counts. Charges include one of rape and seven of sexual…
Abuse survivors not compensated enough, Commission hears
Two lawyers who have represented more than 1000 abuse survivors have told the Royal Commission no victim has ever received adequate compensation for what they suffered. The inquiry into abuse…
Abuse in Care inquiry: Number of claimants increasing – law firm
Two lawyers who represent claimants who were abused while in state or faith-based care say the number of people who have come forward is growing. The Royal Commission of Inquiry…
Decision on school name change to follow after decision from Vatican
A decision to change a controversial school’s name has been put on hold while Dunedin’s Bishop waits for word from Rome. Published in Radio New Zealand
Child sexual abuse inquiry criticises lack of cooperation from Vatican
The Vatican’s repeated refusal to cooperate with official investigations into paedophile priests and its delay in stripping convicted offenders of their clerical status has been condemned by the UK’s child…
11 percent of reported sexual violence cases end in conviction – report
Less than a third of sexual violence cases reported to the police make it court, according to a new report released by the Ministry of Justice. Out of the almost…
What to expect from the long-awaited Abuse in Care Royal Commission
Analysis: A long time coming. Finally, after months of haggling over terms of reference, years of steadily growing political discussion and decades of pressure from those who experienced this vast…
Abuse Inquiry: Claims of historical child rape at state-owned care institutions heard
Survivors of historical cases of child rape, violence and neglect at state-owned care institutions are being officially heard for the first time. Witnesses on Tuesday began giving evidence at the…
Witnesses give evidence at Royal Commission inquiry into abuse in state care
Witnesses have this morning begun giving evidence at the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State Care. One of the first to appear will be high-profile former prisoner Arthur…
Resignation ahead of Royal Commission public hearings
Warning: This story discusses issues related to rape and sexual violence. As the Royal Commission of Inquiry into State Abuse begins public hearings, its survivor advisory group is in disarray….
Royal Commission: Jehovah’s Witness elders told to destroy documents
Jehovah’s Witnesses church elders in New Zealand have been told to destroy documents, and child sex abuse survivors fear that will lead to the cover up of cases. Published in…
Joy Cowley blames victims of sex attacks by bishop
Peter Lineham talks about the issues arising from the unlikely defence by children’s author, Joy Cowley, of a disgraced bishop. Listen online at Radio New Zealand By the Panel Published…
Cardinal refers handling of sex abuse case to Vatican
The handling of historic sexual offending within the Catholic Diocese of Dunedin by then-Bishop John Kavanagh has been referred to the Vatican by New Zealand’s top Catholic. Published in Radio…