20 July 2026

Changes are coming to State redress

The Government is introducing a new service to make State redress easier to access, easier to understand, and more consistent for people seeking redress.

These changes will be introduced soon.

This page explains:

  • what is changing
  • what is staying the same
  • how your information may be collected, used, and shared
  • what you may need to do

Redress processes are becoming simpler

State Redress NZ will soon launch a new service to help survivors of abuse or neglect in State care find their way through the State redress process.

The State redress system includes the government agencies that respond to people seeking redress for abuse or neglect they experienced while in State care.

The new service will make the process simpler and more consistent. If your experience involved more than one State-run organisation, you should only need to share your experience once. You will also have a clear point of contact throughout the process.

To support this, government agencies will work more closely together. This will change how your information is collected, used, and shared so that survivors have a more joined-up and survivor-centred experience.

What is redress?

Redress is how government agencies respond to people who experienced abuse or neglect while they were in State care.

Government agencies that make up the State redress system include:

  • Ministry of Social Development
  • Oranga Tamariki
  • Ministry of Education
  • Ministry of Health
  • Health New Zealand
  • Te Puni Kōkiri
  • Department of Corrections

Redress can include one or more of the following:

  • access to care records
  • an opportunity to share your experience
  • wellbeing support
  • a personalised apology
  • legal services support
  • a financial payment

The type of redress you may receive will depend on your situation and what is found during the assessment process.

What is changing

A new service will become the first place to go for people who:

  • want information about State redress
  • want to make a new claim
  • want an update on an existing claim

The service is designed to make it easier to get information, understand the process, and know what happens next.

The State redress service team will be based within the Ministry of Social Development (MSD). The team will work with the government agencies that are part of the State redress system.  

The service will be able to:

  • help people make a new redress claim
  • provide updates on existing redress claims
  • answer general questions about State redress

If you make a new claim, a member of the State redress service team will explain how your information may be collected, used, and shared to help assess and respond to your claim.

What is staying the same

The government agency responsible for responding to your claim will still assess and respond to it.

If you already have a redress claim, your claim will continue as normal. You will keep working with the agency managing your claim for now, and you do not need to start again.

Why these changes are being made

The changes are being made to make State redress easier to understand and use. They will help people find information more easily and know who to contact.

The new service is part of the Government's work to improve State redress following recommendations from the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.

How your information will be used

To support the new State redress service, government agencies in the State redress system will share some administrative information about existing and previous redress claims with the State redress service team before the service starts.

This information will help the service support survivors from day one. It will allow the team to answer questions about existing and previous claims, help people make new claims, connect people with the right agency, and support a more joined-up redress system.

The information shared may include your contact details and basic information about your claim, such as:

  • the status of your claim
  • the agency managing your claim
  • any services you have requested or received

Only information needed to operate the State redress service will be shared.

The State redress service will not receive or access:

  • details of allegations from previous claims
  • historic care records held by agencies
  • the contents of care records
  • other source material used by agencies to assess claims

Your information will only be accessed by staff who need it to do their job. It will continue to be protected under privacy laws and rules.

What this means for existing claims

If you already have a redress claim:

  • if you already have a contact person at an agency, you will continue to work with them
  • if your claim has not yet been assigned to an agency contact, the State redress service may be your main point of contact until one is assigned
  • you can choose to contact the State redress service for general information and updates about your claim
  • the service will have access to limited information about your claim, such as your contact details, the status of your claim, any support you have received, any payments made, and whether you have requested or received your care records
  • the service will not have access to your historic care records – these will remain with the agency responsible for your claim

One redress claim and one point of contact

If you experienced abuse or neglect in more than one State care setting, your experiences may be considered through a single redress claim.

For example, this could include time spent in a foster home and a residential special school.

Once your claim is assigned to an agency you will have one main agency contact. This means you should not need to repeat your experience to multiple agencies, and you will receive a more joined-up response.

If your claim relates to more than one care setting, agencies may work together and share information about your experiences so they can understand your claim and respond to it. Someone will explain what this means for you and your claim.

In January 2026, the Common Payment Framework was introduced across State redress agencies. The Framework is designed to consider a survivor's overall care experience when redress is assessed.

This means that any future redress offer may take other current or previous claims and payments into account. We are still working through how this will apply in different situations and will keep people informed as decisions are made.

What you need to do

You do not need to do anything right now.

When the new service becomes available, information about how to contact the service and how to make a claim will be published on this website.

If you already have a claim, you do not need to take any action.

More information

If you have questions about these changes or what they mean for your claim, please contact the agency you are working with.

You can find contact details for participating redress agencies here:

Make a new redress claim

Frequently asked questions

  • What is redress?

    Redress is how government agencies respond to people who experienced abuse or neglect while they were in State care. It is a way to listen, acknowledge what happened, and try to make things right.

    The government agencies that make up the State redress system include:

    • Ministry of Social Development
    • Oranga Tamariki
    • Ministry of Education
    • Ministry of Health
    • Health New Zealand
    • Te Puni Kōkiri
    • Department of Corrections

    Redress can include one or more of the following:

    • access to care records
    • an opportunity to share your experience
    • wellbeing support
    • a personalised apology
    • legal services support
    • a financial payment

    The type of redress you may receive will depend on your situation and what is found during the assessment process.

  • What is the State redress service?

    The State redress service is a single point of contact for people seeking information about State redress.

    The service can:

    • answer questions about State redress
    • help people make a new redress claim
    • provide information and updates about the progress of a claim, where available
    • connect people with the right government agency or agencies
    • explain what happens next in the redress process
    • help people access information about care records and wellbeing support

    The State redress service is designed to make it easier to get information, understand the process, make a claim, and know what happens next. It also means people do not need to work out which agency to contact first.

  • Why State Redress NZ has been set up

    State Redress NZ has been set up to make the State redress system easier to understand and use.

    It provides a single starting point for people seeking information about State redress. This makes it easier to get information, understand the process, make a claim, and know what happens next.

    The service also means people do not need to work out which government agency to contact first.

  • Will I need to repeat my experience?

    State Redress NZ is designed to reduce the need for people to repeat their experience.

    If agencies need to work together to support your claim, they will only share the information needed to help provide a joined-up response. Any sharing will be carried out in line with privacy laws and requirements.

  • Do I need to share every detail of what happened?

    No.

    When you first contact the State redress service, you only need to provide enough information to help us understand your enquiry and connect you with the right agency or agencies.

    You will not usually be asked to provide detailed information about your experiences right away, although you can choose to share more information if you wish.

  • What if my experiences involve more than one agency or care setting?

    Some people’s experiences involve more than one care setting, organisation, or government agency.

    You only need to start the process once. The State redress service will work with the relevant agencies to decide how your claim should be managed and will discuss this with you.

    Where agencies need to work together to respond to your claim, they may share information to help provide a more joined-up response.

  • Does my claim go through MSD if it relates to another agency?

    The State redress service is based within the Ministry of Social Development (MSD), but it works on behalf of the wider State redress system.

    The government agency responsible for your claim will still assess and respond to it.

    The State redress service helps people get information, make a claim, and receive updates. It also helps connect people with the right agency or agencies.

  • How is my information protected?

    Your information will continue to be handled carefully and respectfully, and will be protected in line with privacy laws and requirements.

    Information will only be shared where it is needed to support the redress process. This may include helping identify the right agency, assessing a claim, or supporting a joined-up response across agencies.

    Your information will only be accessed by staff who need to do their job.

  • Do I need to do anything now?

    No.

    If you already have a claim, you do not need to take any action.

    When the new State redress service becomes available, information about how to contact the service and how it works will be published on this website.