ABUSE IN CARE IN FAITH-BASED INSTITUTIONS 

Tēnā koutou, Talofa lava, Malo e lelei, Ni sa bula, Fakaalofa lahi atu, Fakatalofa atu, Fakafeiloaki 

Abuse in care is the subject of a Royal Commission hearing coming up October 13 – 19. 

It should not come as a shock to our school family, or our wider community, that Wesley College will be among the Methodist, Anglican and Catholic schools appearing, along with other faith-based institutions represented at the hearings. 

Why? Wesley College has already acknowledged wrongs – including those involving a former pupil from the 1990s at the Royal Commission of Inquiry hearing Tulou - Our Pacific Voices: Tatala e Pulonga (lifting the dark cloud). We are aware that there have been other complaints from former pupils who have come forward to the Royal Commission.    

Let me, with the backing of your board of trustees and trust board, state clearly that Wesley College is committed to providing a safe environment for all pupils. 

The Royal Commission is looking at the Aotearoa New Zealand care system from 1950 – 1999 and asking questions of faith-based institutions about the safety of the College environment and whether it had adequate systems in place.  

While the socially acceptable norms in the past may have been different to today, we have always been responsible for protecting the young people in our care. 

The trustees and I have been working hard to generate a caring and respectful culture among today’s young people and we ask that our school family and their families do the same.  We very much support the work of the Royal Commission and have been engaging with the Commission over the last year.  

It is important as we move forward that you talk with your children about this commission and how they can play their part in making the school a safe and happy environment for all.   

Your sincerely

Dr. Brian Evans
PRINCIPAL