Govt Acknowledges Torture of Children at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital in Historic Inquiry Report

The Royal Commission's investigation revealed that most of the 362 children who passed through the Lake Alice Child and Adolescent Unit were subjected to severe mistreatment.

For the first time, the Government has formally acknowledged that some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital endured torture. This acknowledgment comes with the release of the final report from the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care, titled "Whanaketia – Through Pain and Trauma, From Darkness to Light," which was tabled in Parliament today.

The Royal Commission's investigation revealed that most of the 362 children who passed through the Lake Alice Child and Adolescent Unit were subjected to severe mistreatment. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon described the findings as "profoundly disturbing" and expressed deep regret, stating, "It is reprehensible that this has occurred in New Zealand. I want to thank the Lake Alice survivors for their determination to ensure what they suffered was brought to light. I am sorry it has taken so long for this acknowledgment of torture."

Minister Erica Stanford, responsible for coordinating the Crown Response to the Abuse in Care Inquiry, detailed the horrific practices inflicted on patients at Lake Alice during the 1970s. "Patients were given electric shocks without anaesthetic and subjected to painful, immobilising paraldehyde injections. These treatments were not administered for medical reasons but were used for punishment and emotional control through terror. It is beyond heartbreaking," Ms. Stanford said.

The Government will now explore options for redress for the survivors of Lake Alice. Ms. Stanford noted the urgency of the situation, acknowledging that many survivors are in fragile health or have already passed away. "To their families and whānau, I am sorry that they are not here to hear the State admit to what we should have acknowledged many years ago," she said.

The formal acknowledgment of torture is a significant step towards addressing the grievous wrongs suffered by the Lake Alice survivors and their families, marking a crucial moment in New Zealand's ongoing journey toward justice and healing.