Safeguarding Policy and Practices

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Diocesan Safeguarding Advisors For Clergy and Religious Coming to NZ Key Documents Reporting Abuse to NOPS Safeguarding Policy and Practices Safeguarding Review Information Translated Documents --Māori translations --Samoan translations --Tongan translations Volunteer and Employee Forms Your Feedback

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Documents & Policies

Available for download

Complaint Process Summary

Concerns and Complaints Template

Initial Procedure for Managing Allegations

Reporting Abuse to National Office for Professional Standards

Processes for Volunteers

Referee Response Form

Safety Checking and Police Vetting

External Review Process

Feedback Regarding This Website

Provide Feedback or Make a Complaint About Our Office (NOPS)

More documents are currently being produced. In the meantime, please contact us for further information.

Report Abuse

Report Abuse or a Concern of Harm

Make a report

Please read this updated important message before continuing to our website.
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There is currently a Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care taking place. As part of its work, the Commission is inquiring into historic abuse that has occurred within the Catholic Church of Aotearoa New Zealand. The Commission was set up by the government and is completely independent from the government and from Catholic Bishops and Congregational Leaders of Aotearoa New Zealand. The main period of investigation is 1950 to 1999, however the Inquiry has discretion to consider issues and experiences prior to 1950, and will also consider issues and experiences after 1999, in order to inform its recommendations.

Personal information about survivors and those accused of abuse has been sought by the Inquiry under power given in the Inquiries Act 2013 . This information has been provided by Church authorities and the National Office for Professional Standards as required by law.

Inquiry staff may contact survivors who are not registered with the Inquiry. If you have any questions about the Inquiry’s practices, please contact the Inquiry on 0800 222 727.

If you or a member of your family has been harmed in the care of the Catholic Church, there are a number of ways your complaint can be heard:

If you wish to engage with the Commission, there is information on the Royal Commission’s website at www.abuseincare.org.nz.
For more information about Te Houhanga Rongo A Path to Healing, and the Catholic complaints process, visit our page on Responding to Complaints and Concerns.
The Bishops and Congregational Leaders of the Catholic Church of Aotearoa New Zealand also encourage any survivors of abuse to approach the New Zealand Police, and will cooperate with any Police investigation.

If you choose to have your complaint considered under A Path to Healing, you can continue, pause, or resume your complaint at any time.

No decisions made by the Church authorities about your complaint will be impacted negatively if you choose to speak with the Royal Commission, or if you choose to pause the consideration of your complaint while you speak with the Royal Commission. This is also the case if your complaint is currently being considered by NOPS or the Church authority and you choose to speak to the Royal Commission in a private session, or to give evidence at a hearing.