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.  

What these changes mean for survivors

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 late 2026.

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 and serious offender provisions

The Redress System for Abuse in Care Act 2026 introduced a new process for considering applications for financial redress from people with certain serious violent or sexual convictions. The process is overseen by an independent redress officer appointed under the Act.

Under the Act, people who have convicted of certain serious violent or sexual offences are generally not eligible for financial redress. However, an independent redress officer can determine that financial redress should be available in an individual case.

 The redress officer is independent of the agencies involved in the State redress system and is responsible for determining whether a person subject to the serious offender provisions should be eligible for financial redress under the Act.

The provisions relating to serious violent and sexual offenders take effect from 1 August 2026 and apply to applications for financial redress made on or after 9 May 2025. 

Learn more about financial redress and criminal record checks.

Redress System for Abuse in Care Act 2026 | New Zealand Legislation

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.