Survivor Support Recognition Fund, redress implementation progress
This pānui shares the latest progress on the government’s response to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.
In this issue, read about the third round of Survivor Support and Recognition Fund, redress system end of year report, updated responses to six Royal Commission recommendations, and development of a common policy for allegations of torture in State care.
Survivor Support and Recognition Fund applications to open next year
The Government has approved a third and final round of the Survivor Support and Recognition Fund (SSRF) to support survivors of abuse and neglect in care through community-led services and initiatives.
A contestable fund of $820,000 will be available to non-government organisations and community groups that directly assist and deliver services to survivors of abuse in care. This funding should help them continue delivering their survivor-focused services and initiatives, while allowing time for them to explore more sustainable funding options.
Applications for this funding are expected to open in February 2027.
The fund will once again be administered by the Department of Internal Affairs' Community Operations team.
Registered charities can apply for funding to deliver their 2027 initiatives that foster healing, remembrance, community connection, survivor support, education and awareness, including National Day of Reflection activities.
Details about the funding eligibility and criteria will be shared when applications open early next year.
Read more about the third round of SSRF here:
Survivor Support and Recognition Fund to open next year | Beehive.govt.nz(external link)
Redress system end of year report 2025/26
The consolidated report of State redress agencies’ progress against the Redress Implementation Plan from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026 is now available on the State Redress New Zealand website.
Work to improve the State redress system continued throughout 2025/26, with a focus on delivering changes that make practical difference for survivors. Key achievements implemented during this period include:
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increasing the average redress payments for new claims to $30,000
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introduction of top-up payments, helping bring earlier payment for survivors whose claims were previously settled into line with the enhanced redress settings introduced last year.
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Implementation of a common payment framework that helps ensure people with similar experiences receive similar redress regardless of which agency assesses their claim.
Agencies have made a total of 1,718 settlement offers this reporting period, exceeding their annual target by 11%.
Major system improvements were also progressed, including development of the new State Redress Service, which launched in August 2026 as one place to go for information about State redress, making a new claim, and understanding what happens next.
The year also saw the passage of the Redress System for Abuse in Care Act 2026 and continued work on an independent review function to strengthen trust and confidence in the redress system.
Read the full report on the State Redress New Zealand website:
Publications and policies - Redress New Zealand(external link)
Royal Commission recommendations with updated responses
After assessing care and redress agencies’ progress in implementing agreed policy directions and developing operational responses, the Government agreed in September 2026 to update the Crown’s response to six Royal Commission recommendations that were under further consideration.
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Whanaketia 115: prioritise and invest in contemporary, whānau-centred and community-led models of care was updated to accept intent.
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He Purapura Ora 22: proactive, accessible and targeted communications approach to redress scheme was updated to accept intent.
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He Purapura Ora 35: guidance for institutions on the form and delivery of apologies to survivors was updated to accept.
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He Purapura Ora 45: power to investigate systemic abuse and neglect at institutions and recommend common experience payments to survivors of those institutions was updated to partially accept.
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He Purapura Ora 73: raise awareness of abuse in care, what it is, its effects, what has been done in response, and how those abused can seek help was updated to accept.
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He Purapura Ora 49: aligning the redress system with the recommended ACC reform was updated to decline.
These updated responses will be reflected in the next Crown response reporting period (2026/27).
Crown response reports can be found here:
Corporate publications | Crown response to the Abuse in Care Inquiry(external link)
Development of common policy for allegations of torture in State care
The Crown Response Office is currently working with Crown Law, New Zealand Police, State redress agencies and other relevant agencies to develop a common policy that will set out a consistent process for responding to allegations of torture in State care settings.
The policy will guide agencies in reviewing an allegation of torture to determine whether an impartial investigation should be progressed.
The policy will also set out appropriate processes for the impartial investigation of allegations and, if necessary, acknowledgement and redress.
Further updates will be provided after the policy is finalised.
Read the proactively released Cabinet paper about this here: