On behalf of the Board and management of The Open Home Foundation of NZ I apologise unreservedly if you, or one of your family members, was abused or harmed while in our care. We recognise that caring for someone else’s tamariki and rangitahi is a privilege.

If we didn’t listen to you or your whānau or take you seriously when you told us about abuse, we are truly sorry. We are sorry if those we made responsible for caring for you did not provide you with the unconditional love, care, and support that you needed and expected.

Your time in Open Home care should have been characterised by safety and unconditional love. You should have known why you were in care and, you should have been part of the planning for your care and, wherever possible, your return home to your family or whānau.

We must continue to do better, which is why we are committed to Open Home’s journey to being Trauma Informed. This means ensuring all staff and foster parents receive Trauma Informed training specific to their roles.

With what we now know about Trauma Informed Care and Social Work, we wish we could turn back the clock for you and every child and young person ever cared for by the Open Home Foundation since 1977. We know that bringing a Trauma Informed lens to all we do would have helped us see you as someone who had suffered trauma and was therefore in need of unconditional support and love.

If you would like to talk to us about our redress process, please contact us. We are happy to talk with you either in person, on-line, in writing, or through someone you trust to support or represent you.