‘We can speak for ourselves’: Hope and a commitment to redress at RNZFB apology to survivors

It was a “momentous day” for Kylee Maloney to receive a formal apology for the abuse she suffered as a child at Homai College, run at the time by the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind (RNZFB). 

“Didn’t realise it was abuse, it was just my life,” she said. But it wasn’t just the verbal apology that made the day so significant, it was the commitment to redress — a process of righting the wrongs through compensation being led by survivors — that gives Maloney hope.

“With all our lives, we've had things done for us and to us. And actually, this shows we can do it for ourselves.”

“As disabled people, we don't get validated or heard very often. And the first time that happened for me was when I went for the Commission as a witness; it was the first time. And this [apology] is another level of being heard and being validated,” she said.

The apology event took place Thursday last week at Blind Low Vision’s new Community Hub in Parnell, Tāmaki Makaurau. A public acknowledgment and apology from RNZFB (which has rebranded as Blind Low Vision NZ) was part of Recommendation 3 in the Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry’s final report.

The RNZFB board were in attendance at the event as well as other survivors, Blind Low Vision staff, and Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei.

Stephanie Birkhead, who opened the survivor speeches with a minute of silence for those who have passed, travelled from the US to be at the event. “Where once there was neglect, there is now respect,” she said. 

Jonathan Mosen joined the event over Zoom from Baltimore, Maryland in the US. “The need for justice and the need for healing means this event must take place,” he said.

In his closing remarks for survivors, Mosen offered thanks: “Thank you for your courage, thank you for keeping hope alive, thank you for not giving up in the struggle for justice.”

Survivor Don McLaren shared similar words in his speech: “I don’t have the words but I do respect your courage and tenacity… you’ve all run a long race.” 

Clive Lansink, chair of the RNZFB Board of Directors, read the formal apology on behalf of the board, in which a physical copy was also given to survivors in the room in large print and Braille. 

The apology opened with: “We are deeply sorry.” The Board acknowledged RNZFB’s role in the abuse, neglect and mistreatment of the blind, low vision and deafblind children and adults in its care.

“We failed in our fundamental duty to protect you. We caused harm — deep, lasting, and often invisible harm that continues to shape lives to this day. For that, we offer our sincere, unreserved, and unequivocal apology.”

The Board said it was committed to a survivor-led process of redress and change, and preventing abuse in its services, as well as those provided by other service providers.

“We offer this apology with humility and without excuse,” Lansink said. “We cannot undo the past. But we can face it. And we can act now — with you — to shape a better future.”

Maloney is part of the survivor-led redress group, chaired by Dr Pam MacNeill. At the event, MacNeill outlined the redress process, which has a two-year timeframe. Within that time, they aim to fully establish the group, design a process for redress and consult with survivors to figure out what redress looks like; it might mean different things to different people, she said.

Even beyond the two years, it’s hoped that the legacy of the redress group will give people the courage to raise problems and the assurance they will be given the support and help needed, unlike survivors in the past. 

Maloney said the redress process is a “huge piece of work”, and is looking forward to addressing policies and how they can be changed for the better. 

For other disabled people, Maloney hopes the apology will give them encouragement. “We can speak for ourselves. We can lead ourselves.”

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