Historic Abuse

The Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand has a duty of care that we take very seriously.

Report abuse

To report or discuss any matter concerning abuse and the Presbyterian Church, contact the Complaints and Disputes Manager.

Complaints of a serious sexual nature or those involving children will always be referred to the Police.

Contact:

Complaints and Disputes Manager
Anne Edgar
Email - ComplaintsandDisputesManager@presbyterian.org.nz
Free phone - 0800 244 357

Make a complaint

The Presbyterian Church has rules and procedures that have been developed to enable individuals, and the Church, to respond responsibly to any acts of inappropriate or unethical behaviour by a Church office-bearer or member. To make a complaint see here and contact the Complaints Manager as above.

Presbyterian Church policies

See the Presbyterian Church's Code of Ethics and Child Protection policy information.

Preventing abuse

The PCANZ 'Family Violence' website page has links to resources and help services, see it here. 

The Church & Presbyterian organisations

Q. Are all churches in New Zealand with Presbyterian in their name a church of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand (PCANZ)?

A. Most Presbyterian churches are part of the PCANZ, however there are a small number of independent churches in New Zealand that are not and have never been churches of the PCANZ.

Q. What is the relationship between Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand and Presbyterian Support New Zealand, and Presbyterian schools?

A. The Presbyterian Church was involved in the founding of the organisation that became Presbyterian Support New Zealand, and Presbyterians leaders were involved in the founding of the Presbyterian schools. See more below.

Presbyterian Schools

Presbyterian schools are either independent, private schools or state integrated. Each school has its own founding story, usually featuring some key Presbyterian leaders.

Today, primarily through the Presbyterian Church Schools Resource Office, the Church aims to work with Presbyterian schools to develop and coordinate the provision of resources in-keeping with the Christian and Presbyterian/Reformed character of those schools. Read more about schools.

Presbyterian Support New Zealand

Presbyterian Support New Zealand is an autonomous entity with its own management structures. It is a federation of seven Presbyterian Support organisations which are managed and operated separately.

Concerned with wanting to help those in need, the Presbyterian Church was involved in founding the Presbyterian Social Services Association, which later developed into Presbyterian Support.

Today, a number of Presbyterian churches work with Presbyterian Support regional organisations for social transformation. At a national level, the Presbyterian Church works with Presbyterian Support through PresCare, seeking ways a shared faith and commitment can respond to need in Aotearoa. Read more about Presbyterian Support NZ.

Presbyterian Church's response to recommendations Abuse in Care Report, Council of Assembly, 16 December 2024

On 16 December 2024, Council of Assembly wrote to the Church and sent, and also made public, the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand's response to the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care report. Download the Presbyterian Church response in English and in Te Reo Māori below. You can also watch an interpretation of the response in New Zealand Sign Language below. Download a discussion document on, The Value of Translating the Royal Commission Recommendations and PCANZ Responses into Te Reo Māori by Professor Taiarahia Black. 

Presbyterian Church's response to Abuse in Care Report findings, Council of Assembly, 22 October 2024

On 22 October 2024 Council of Assembly sent to the Church, and made public, the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand's response to the findings of the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care report. Download the Presbyterian Church response in English and in Te Reo Māori below. You can also watch an interpretation of the response in New Zealand Sign Language below.

Pastoral letter from the Moderator 22 October 2024 -  Church's response to Abuse in Care Report findings

Download here a pastoral letter to the Presbyterian Church from its Moderator Right Rev Rose Luxford regarding a 22 October 2024 Council of Assembly communication on the release of the Church's response to the Abuse in Care Report findings.

Letter from the Council of Assembly 31 July 2024 -  Abuse in Care Report

Council of Assembly met on Wednesday 31 July. Among other matters it considered the Abuse in Care Report from the Royal Commission: Whanaketia – Through pain and trauma, from darkness to light. Whakairihia ki te tihi o Maungārongo. Download here the Council News pdf letter emailed to the Church on Friday 2 August 2024. The letter has information on a task group formed on behalf of the Presbyterian Church to fully consider the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry. The Group will identify the matters that need attention by the Church, recommend to the Council of Assembly steps to be taken by the Church to attend to those matters, monitor initial progress in implementing necessary steps, and report regularly and in a timely way to the Council of Assembly. 

Pastoral letter from the Moderator 29 July 2024 -  - Abuse in Care Report

Download here a pastoral letter to the Presbyterian Church from its Moderator Right Rev Rose Luxford after the release of the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care report.

Media

Media release 16 December 2024: Presbyterian Church releases response to recommendations of Royal Commission into Abuse in Care

The Presbyterian Church has today published its response to the Commission’s recommendations. It has accepted the recommendations, and where the Commission has not directed specific recommendations to the Church, the Church acknowledges these and will support their accomplishment.  The Presbyterian Church response is in English, Te Reo Māori, NZ Sign language, and it has also released a separate discussion document by Professor Taiarahia Black on, The Value of Translating the Royal Commission Recommendations and PCANZ Responses into Te Reo Māori. The Presbyterian Church has committed to participating in Puretumu Torowhānui and cooperating with the government over the adoption and implementation of a nationwide safeguarding regulatory framework,...Read the full media release here.

Media release 22 October 2024: Presbyterian Church releases response to Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care findings

Today the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand released its response to the findings of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care.
The Presbyterian Church accepts the findings of the Royal Commission, including the Presbyterian Church’s reluctance to confront abuse, its failure to remove people, and the lack of consistent policies and procedures to prevent and report abuse.
The Presbyterian Church grieves deeply for all who have been harmed by its actions and inaction. Its sorrow is deep, and it is committed to working with all in building safe places for everyone.
In its response, the Presbyterian Church has apologised as a first step in doing the work of repentance, and from which it hopes that in time restoration may come. A public apology to survivors, their whanau and support networks  will be made by the Presbyterian Church’s Moderator Right Rev Rose Luxford in mid-November 2024...." Read the full media release here.

Media release 27 March 2024: Update on Presbyterian Church investigation into claims of historic abuse in Dunedin

"In November 2022 the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand released a media statement on very concerning allegations that had come to its attention when the Church appeared before the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care.
That appearance by the Presbyterian Church was on 19 October 2022. Earlier that day, the Commission had heard from some of the Presbyterian Support organisations, including Presbyterian Support Otago (PSO).
Presbyterian Support Otago was questioned by the Commission regarding a witness who alleged that when she was child residing in PSO’s Dunedin Glendining Presbyterian Children’s Homes in the 1950s she was the victim of a paedophile ring involving Presbyterian church parishioners.
This utterly distressing information came as a complete shock as the Church did not know of these heart-breaking allegations prior. We first heard of them via the Royal Commission. 
The sexual abuse of children is completely abhorrent and is a crime. It is damaging and devastating abuse of trust.
In response to these very troubling allegations, the Church acted. It undertook an independent investigation into the claims of a paedophile ring involving Presbyterian church members in Dunedin – parishioners, ministers, staff...." Read the full media release here.

Media release 4 Nov 2022: Presbyterian Church to launch inquiry into Dunedin historic abuse allegation

"The Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand was alarmed and saddened on 19 October to hear at the Royal Commission public hearing for responses of faith institutions to abuse in care, of an allegation concerning one of Presbyterian Support Otago (PSO) children’s homes and a paedophile ring involving Presbyterian church parishioners.... PSO and the Presbyterian Church are separate organisations... Rev Wayne Matheson, Assembly Executive Secretary of the Presbyterian Church, says the Royal Commission hearing was the first the Presbyterian Church had heard of these shocking allegations.  “Immediately after learning of the allegations at the hearing, the Presbyterian Church began planning an independent investigation into the claims. Terms of Reference have been finalised together with the appointment of a senior King’s Counsel as an independent investigator. Once we have permission from the Royal Commission to allow access to material, our investigator can start her work..." Read the full media release here.