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 |