Episode Details

High Court Judge Rules Against Ministry of Social Development: Abuse in Care Compensation Claims Reopened

A High Court judge has ruled that the New Zealand Ministry of Social Development unlawfully rejected abuse in care compensation claims. The ministry failed to follow its own rules, striking out applications from three survivors at the first step. The judge ordered the ministry to properly review these claims.

The survivors, who were in tough spots in the nineteen nineties and two thousands, reported physical and sexual abuse at home but were not investigated. They filed for redress in twenty twenty-three, believing the lack of action caused them harm.

Lawyer Lydia Oosterhoff, who fought the case, called this a huge win for survivors. She believes at least twenty-nine of her clients faced the same barrier, and many more without lawyers did too. The judge pointed out that the ministry twisted its own guidelines, demanding proof that harm came directly from their actions or inaction, which is not what the policy says.

The ministry is reviewing the judgment and has not said if they will appeal. This ruling opens the door wider for abuse survivors to share their experiences and seek whats fair, pushing the system toward real accountability.

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