National Day of Reflection on Abuse in Care
Rā Whakamaharatanga ā-Motu mō te Tukino i te Manaaki | National Day of Reflection on Abuse in Care
He rā tēnei hei whakamaumahara, hei whakanui i te hunga kua pāngia e te tukino i te manaaki. Me noho tātou hei kaitiaki mō te mana me te tapu o te tangata, kia mau ai te aroha, te tika, me te rangimārie i roto i ā tātou mahi katoa.
Today, on the Abuse in Care National Day of Reflection, we pause to acknowledge and honour those who have experienced harm while in care in Aotearoa New Zealand. We recognise the deep and lasting impact of abuse and neglect, and we reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that every person we support is worked with in partnership and treated with dignity, respect, and compassion.
This day reminds us that reflection must be paired with action. We carry a shared responsibility to create care environments where people feel safe, valued and truly heard. ConneXu has been taking deliberate steps to strengthen the quality of our supports to reduce the risk of harm. These initiatives are part of a wider cultural commitment to learning, continuous improvement and building trust across our community
Strengthening Quality and Safeguards
Our commitment to aligning with Ngā Paerewa (Health and Disability Services Standards) continues to guide and strengthen our internal quality systems. Through regular quality audits, both internal and external, we review our practices, identify areas for improvement and ensure our teams are supported to deliver consistent, person-centred care. These audits aren’t about compliance alone — they are about learning and growing together to create the best possible outcomes for the people we partner with.
We have reviewed our complaints and feedback processes to make it easier, safer, and more transparent for disabled people, families/whānau and team members to raise concerns or share suggestions. Every voice matters and every piece of feedback is treated as an opportunity to listen, improve and build trust.
We’re committed to making sure disabled people understand their rights as health and disability service consumers. We provide clear, accessible information and support so people know where to turn if something isn’t working for them.
Partnering with Disabled People and Families
We are deeply grateful for the insight and leadership the Family Focus Group. This group helps to shape our policies, training and decision-making, so that our services are grounded in lived experience. Their perspectives encourage us to think differently, act courageously and stay accountable to those we serve. To strengthen the leadership, insights and opportunities for codesign we are re-establishing our Disabled Partner Advisory Group, providing them with a clear mandate and appropriate support to assist them to contribute successfully and meaningfully. Disabled people are active members of committees at ConneXu such as the Health and Safety Committee and numerous strategic working parties.
Investing in Our People and Leadership
Strong leadership and capable and confident team members are at the heart of safe, high-quality support. We are undertaking a comprehensive gap analysis of the skills and experience across our teams. This work will help us build a stronger learning and development framework, providing targeted training, coaching and professional growth pathways.
We’re also investing in our leaders to grow a positive, coaching-based culture—one that encourages open communication, ethical choices, and proactive safeguarding across all levels of the organisation. Our enhanced orientation and induction processes to ensure every new team member understands not just their responsibilities, but the values that define how we care and support.
A Commitment to Trust and Growth
Building trust and growing together is a journey we’re proud to be on. Every day, we’re learning, reflecting, and taking action to make ConneXu a place where people feel safe, supported, and valued. Our focus is on empowering growth — for the people we partner with, their families, and our teams.
As we reflect today, we hold in our hearts the voices of those who were not kept safe. Their experiences compel us to do better and to ensure that care is always a place of healing and empowerment.
Mā te whakaaro nui, mā te ngākau aroha, ka taea e tātou te whakapai ake i te ao manaaki. Me ū tonu ki te pono, ki te tika, kia whakakotahi ai tātou i raro i te korowai o te aroha me te rangimārie.
Fern Ryan
Chief Executive Officer
ConneXu
What to do if you have a complaint
ConneXu is committed to continuous quality improvement and will investigate and respond to feedback, especially complaints, in an effective, timely and appropriate manner.
Submit your complaint online here
P: 07 871 8847
The Survivor Experiences Service is for people who were abused in state, faith-based, or other forms of care - access to their resources can be found below
W: https://survivorexperiences.govt.nz/
E: contact@survivorexperiences.govt.nz
Text: 8328
P: 0800 456 090