Disability, Deaf, and Mental Health institutional care hearing 11-20 July

The Abuse in Care Royal Commission will be holding our Disability, Deaf, and Mental Health institutional care public hearing from July 11-20, 2022. The public hearing will be live-streamed, including New Zealand Sign Language interpreters and audio described, captioned evidence.

You can attend the hearing in Newmarket, Auckland.
Address: Level 2, 414 Khyber Pass Road, Newmarket, Tāmaki-Makaurau Auckland (entrance via Kingdon St) 
or watch the live stream.

• Visit: www.abuseincare.org.nz for more information

**Warning** This livestream includes graphic descriptions of abuse. Well-being support is available via phone, text or email. 

• Link to Witness summaries.

Schedule

**Information and schedule below are subject to change** 

Day 1	Monday 11 July
09.30am	Karakia and mihimihi Introduction from the Commissioners Opening Statements from the Royal Commission – Ruth Thomas, Counsel Assisting Opening Statements from People First Opening Statements from the Crown Secretariat
11.30am	Irene and Margaret Priest
01.15pm	Lunch
02.30pm	Mr EI
04.00pm	Allison Campbell
Day 2	Tuesday 12 July
10.00am	David Newman
11.45am	Paul Milner
01.00pm	Lunch
02.15pm	Tony Ryder
03.45pm	Sheree Briggs
Day 3	Wednesday 13 July
09.30am	Ross Clark
10:00am	Dr Olive Webb
11.45am	Alison Adams
1.00pm	Lunch
2.15pm	Peter Keoghan
3.30pm	Caroline Arrell
Day 4	Thursday 14 July
10.00am	Mr EY
11.15am	Sidney Neilson and Cherene Neilson-Hornblow
1.00pm	Lunch
2.00pm	Catherine Hickey
3.30pm	Alison Pascoe
Day 5	Friday 15 July
10.00am	Donna Phillips
11.45am	Sunny Webster
1.00pm	Lunch
2.15pm	Mr EX – Mr EX is of Māori descent and Deaf. He was born into a hearing family and doctors advised his family that he should be sent to Kelston School for the Deaf in Auckland.  He attended from the ages of five to 13 (1966 to 1973). Mr EX will speak about being physically and sexually abused at Kelston School for the Deaf. Mr EX was also not allowed to use sign language at the school. Mr EX’s parents were also told not to speak to him in te reo Māori. He will share his recommendations for change, including an increase of Māori staff at Deaf schools and a program to allow Deaf people to learn te reo through sign language.
Day 6	Monday 18 July
10.00am	Whiti Ronaki – Whiti Ronaki is of Te Arawa descent. When he was three years old, he lost his hearing due to contracting meningitis.  Whiti was sent to board at Kelston School for the Deaf in Auckland from the ages of six to about 16 (1959 to 1969).  At Kelston, he experienced physical, psychological, sexual, and emotional abuse and neglect which continues to impact his personal life and wellbeing. Whiti will speak about children being smacked for signing, and about becoming involved in gangs as a young adult and feeling alienated from both Deaf and Māori communities. He will share his journey to turn his life around, embracing his Deaf and Māori culture, and his work helping young Deaf students. He will speak about the challenges that Deaf Māori still experience, and his hopes for the future – such as sign language continuing to include te reo Māori signs.
12.30pm	Lunch
1.45pm	Mr EV – Mr EV is of Pākehā descent and Deaf. Mr EV was a boarding student at Kelston School for the Deaf in Auckland between the ages of about five and 18 years old (1969–1982). Mr EV will share his experiences of ongoing physical and emotional abuse by a teacher over two years, including witnessing this teacher repeatedly abuse his classmates. Mr EV also experienced ongoing educational and linguistic neglect throughout his schooling. Mr EV will discuss the impacts that this abuse had on him, including his experience of going to the Police and Cooper Legal to try to seek justice and redress.
3.30pm	Jonathan Mosen
Day 7	Tuesday 19 July
10.00am	Lusi Faiva
11.45am	Matthew Whiting
1.30pm	Lunch
2.45pm	Shannon Leeann Barnett
Day 8	Wednesday 20 July
10.00am	Kaupapa Māori panel
12.30pm	Lunch
1.45pm	Dr Brigit Mirfin-Veitch
3.30pm	Closing statements