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About the Historic Abuse Resolution Service
The Ministry of Health administers claims relating to allegations of abuse in state-run psychiatric facilities and psychopaedic hospitals before 1 July 1993. Such abuse includes allegations of physical abuse, sexual abuse or treatment used as punishment (such as ECT or solitary confinement) while in care.
If you suffered abuse while in care, you can make a claim with the Ministry of Health’s Historic Abuse Resolution Service. The service provides a way of acknowledging the experiences of patients and of helping ensure they are not repeated.
We will review your claim, and in appropriate cases where there is information to support a claim, provide an apology, and may also provide a wellbeing payment to you.
In 2005, the Confidential Forum for Former In-Patients of Psychiatric Hospitals was established. This was succeeded by the Confidential Listening and Assistance Service in 2008 and the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care in 2018.
Participants in the Forum, the Service and the Inquiry, highlighted abuse suffered while in care in state-run psychiatric facilities and psychopaedic hospitals.
How to make a claim
To make a claim relating to abuse, contact us with details about your experiences and the abuse you suffered while in care.
This may include:
- details about the allegations of abuse
- supporting information, such as medical records (if held)
- dates
- hospital details
- names of staff.
You do not need a lawyer to work with us. You can seek legal advice at any stage.
Contact us
Contact the Historic Abuse Resolution Service at the Ministry of Health.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (04) 496 2000
Postal address:
Health Legal
Ministry of Health
PO Box 5013
Wellington 6145
How we investigate your claim
We will need your approval to request further information, (such as your medical files from Health New Zealand). We will provide you with an authorisation form for this.
We will assess your claim based on the information available (acknowledging that some records may no longer be available in some cases). If your claim is accepted, we will provide you with an offer for an apology and a wellbeing payment (if appropriate). If you accept the offer, we will issue a letter of apology and organise any payment.
Once records are received from Health New Zealand, the timeframe for processing a request is usually 6 to 8 weeks. We will contact you with the outcome of the review and any offer. In regard to any claim against the Crown for treatment by Area Health Boards prior to 1993, acceptance of any offer will be full and final.
We will maintain all information provided to us in confidence, and use it only to assess your claim.
