19798 (2025). Hon Willow-Jean Prime to the Minister of Police

19798 (2025). Hon Willow-Jean Prime to the Minister of Police: What responsibility, if any, does the Minister have for each of the 138 recommendations of the Royal Commission into Historical Abuse in State Care and in the Care of Faith-based Institutions?

Hon Mark Mitchell: As Minister of Police, I am actively contributing to the Government’s response to the recommendations made in the Royal Commission into Historical Abuse in State Care and in the Care of Faith-based Institutions reports. While ministerial responsibility for individual recommendations remains under active consideration at this time I expect more information about this topic to become available in due course. Of the 138 recommendations made by the Royal Commission, Recommendations 6, 34 and 35 are directed to Police to lead, with several other recommendations requiring Police input and action. Police has commenced the work to review policies to ensure they reflect New Zealand’s human rights and international law obligations, as per Recommendation 34. Recommendation 6 relates to the Police investigation of allegations and Recommendation 35 states “NZ Police should establish a specialist unit dedicated to investigating and prosecuting those responsible for historical or current abuse and neglect in State and faith-based care”. Decisions about the investigation and prosecution of offences are operational decisions for the Commissioner of Police. Police collaborates with other agencies and the Crown Response Office where an opportunity is identified for Police to contribute to any of the 138 recommendations. This is also my response to Written Parliamentary Question 19799 (2025).