Improve trust and confidence in the redress system

State claims processes are currently managed by the same institutions where survivors experience harm. 

This has resulted in low trust and concerns about the integrity of claims outcomes.  

At present, survivors seeking to challenge settlement decisions outside of redress agency review processes must go through lengthy, resource-intensive processes, creating barriers to timely and fair resolutions. Lack of system wide reporting limits the ability of survivors and the public to understand how the redress system is performing.  

The improvements

The following initiatives aim to improve survivors’ trust and confidence in the redress system: 

• An independent review function for survivors with concerns about their settlement offer 

• A common monitoring and reporting framework incorporating survivors insights on their experiences seeking redress 

• The appointment of an independent Redress Officer to ensure financial payments to survivors with convictions for serious violent and sexual offences would not bring the redress system into disrepute 

• An independent review of the impact of the system changes. 

Independent review function

An independent review function is being developed to provide survivors an independent review of financial redress offer. The function will operate outside of redress agencies. It will provide assurance that individual settlement offers have been determined and applied consistently in line with the Common Payment Framework.

The independent review function is scheduled to go live alongside other system changes later this year.

Common monitoring and reporting framework

A monitoring and reporting framework is being developed to understand how the redress system is performing. Performance measures will incorporate feedback from survivors to inform improvements to the redress system. Performance measures and reporting products will evolve and be refined over time as system requirements mature.

The Redress System monitoring and reporting framework will be implemented from June 2026.

Independent Redress Officer to consider redress for survivors with convictions for serious violence and sexual offences

A new process is proposed for applications to financial redress from survivors with certain serious violent and/or sexual offences and who have been sentenced to five years or more in prison for that offence. This process would be overseen by an independent decision maker to determine that a redress payment would not bring the scheme into disrepute.

This approach requires legislation. While a Redress System for Abuse in Care Bill is being considered an interim process is in place to process redress applications submitted from 9 May 2025.

Redress System for Abuse in Care Bill - New Zealand Parliament

Review of system changes in 2027

The government will conduct an independent review of the impact of the redress improvements described in this website. The review is expected to be completed by October 2027.