Politicians implicated in alleged ‘paedophile ring’ investigated by state abuse inquiry
Wednesday, 24 July 2024
The state abuse inquiry found “deeply suspicious” evidence of a paedophile ring involving politicians in the 1980s, but was unable to substantiate the allegations through a secret investigation.
The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care, in its final report published on Wednesday, detailed a “separate and confidential” investigation it launched after receiving allegations about a paedophile ring of central government politicians operating in the 1980s.
The allegations, one of which was subsequently investigated by police, were said to involve the transportation of children from care institutions in Horowhenua to Wellington for sexual abuse by politicians and “prominent public servants”.
“While the evidence that the inquiry received is deeply suspicious, the inquiry is unable to make a finding that organised abuse of children and young people in state care occurred by groups of people in public positions of influence,” the inquiry said.
Having received the allegations early in its inquiry, and deciding to investigate confidentially due to concerns survivors and witnesses might not come forward for fear of retribution, the Royal Commission expanded this separate investigation to include six other broad allegations:
Missing children and young people from social welfare residences and institutions in the Horowhenua region had been buried under trees or dumped in a lake.
Groups of men being brought into the Kimberley Centre, near Levin, to sexually abuse non-speaking girls.
Abuse of children and young people in care by former central government politicians in Auckland.
Abuse of children and young people in care at an Auckland brothel.
Abuse of young people in care working as underage sex workers in Wellington and Dunedin by prominent public servants.
That police officers abused girls who ran away from their care placement before returning them.
The inquiry received information from two people who alleged sexual abuse by different former government politicians. One of these allegations was provided to police in June 2023, but in November the police told the inquiry progress had been “hindered by challenges in locating evidence”.
The inquiry faced its own difficulties in its confidential investigation.
Potential witnesses throughout the country were interviewed and historical records reviewed. One witness with first-hand evidence of the alleged organised abuse was located, as were others who had second- or third-hand information, but this could not be corroborated.
“Several people named by others as survivors or as having relevant information had died or were too unwell to speak to the inquiry, and some were unable to be located.
“In other instances, the information provided indicated that organised abuse may have occurred, but no survivors could be identified.”
Others did not want to provide accounts of what they survived, or witnessed, because “they were fearful of repercussions due to the powerful position formerly or still held by their alleged abuser”.
“This included beliefs that NZ Police were aware of the paedophile rings at the time and had not investigated them.
“It was clear that some people did not trust the Inquiry’s processes, including its ability to protect the confidentiality and safety of individuals who shared information.”
One witness, called Mr El, provided a witness account of organised abuse at the Kimberley Centre near Levin in the 1960s, telling the inquiry a group of adults regularly provided entry to the facility after paying nursing staff, to sexually abuse children.
“Ultimately none of the allegations of organised group abuse in state care settings described above were able to be substantiated by direct evidence,” the inquiry said.