The New Zealand Government has announced the continuation and expansion of the Survivor Support and Recognition Fund, a programme designed to support survivors of abuse in care while also recognising and memorialising those who died in state and faith-based institutions and were buried in unmarked graves. The initiative forms part of the broader national response to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care, which highlighted the need for both survivor-focused services and historical recognition.
The fund provides a total of around $2 million in support, with allocations directed toward non-government organisations and community groups that deliver services to survivors, as well as local authorities responsible for caring for and commemorating unmarked burial sites. The programme aims to ensure that survivors receive practical support such as counselling, advocacy, and community-led initiatives, while also enabling respectful memorialisation efforts for those who were not previously acknowledged.
A key feature of the fund is its focus on community-led and survivor-informed approaches. Organisations can apply for funding to deliver initiatives that improve awareness of abuse in care, strengthen survivor wellbeing, and support culturally appropriate remembrance activities. This includes projects that encourage community participation, education, and long-term support networks for survivors and their families.
Local authorities are also supported through the fund to identify, protect, and memorialise unmarked graves associated with former psychiatric, psychopaedic, and other care institutions. These efforts aim to ensure that those who died in care are respectfully remembered in ways that reflect local community values and historical understanding.
The fund is delivered through Community Operations Hāpai Hapori in partnership with the Crown Response Office, with clear eligibility rules and funding caps for applicants. It reflects the Government’s ongoing commitment to addressing historical harm, improving survivor wellbeing, and ensuring that past abuses are formally acknowledged through both practical support and memorialisation efforts.
