7 March 2023
Henry Tan
[FYI request #21896 email]
Tēnā koe Henry Tan
On 22 February 2023
, you emailed the Ministry of Social Development (the
Ministry) requesting, under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act), the
following information:
1. The rates of abuse in NZ state care from 2022-2023;
2. The historical rates of abuse in NZ state care from 1950-2000;
3. The percentage of state care youths that are classified as Maori and
Pasifika as of 2023;
4. The total number of those currently in state care.
On 3 March 2023, the Ministry advised you that questions 1, 3 and 4 of your
request were transferred to Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children (Oranga
Tamariki) as the information requested is not held by the Ministry and is
believed to be held by Oranga Tamariki.
I will now respond to the remaining part of your request, question 2.
2. The historical rates of abuse in NZ state care from 1950-2000;
Your request for this information is refused in full under section 18(d) of the
Act as the information is publicly available.
You can find a copy of the 1 October 2020 report prepared for the Royal
Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State Care and in the Care of
Faith-based Institutions,
Indicative estimates of the size of cohorts and levels
of abuse in State and faith-based care - 1950 to 2019, available for download
at the following link:
•
www.abuseincare.org.nz/our-progress/library/v/195/size-of-cohorts-
and-levels-of-abuse-in-state-and-faith-based-care-1950-to-2019
Table 6 in this report outlines the cohort of people within social welfare care
settings and identified survivors of abuse, from 1950 to 2019.
The principles and purposes of the Official Information Act 1982 under which
you made your request are:
• to create greater openness and transparency about the plans, work
and activities of the Government,
• to increase the ability of the public to participate in the making and
administration of our laws and policies and
• to lead to greater accountability in the conduct of public affairs.
If you wish to discuss this response with us, please feel free to contact
[MSD request email].
If you are not satisfied with this response, you have the right to seek an
investigation and review by the Ombudsman. Information about how to make
a complaint is available
at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or 0800 802 602.
Ngā mihi nui
p.p.
Sarah Quigan
Manager
Official Information
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