(a) Expansion of wellbeing services and support services for survivors and their whānau; (b) Increasing financial payments for survivors; (c) Enactment of a right to be free from abuse in case, as well as a duty to protect this right; and (d) Public acknowledgement of, and apologies for the abuse, harm and trauma that occurred and the impact it had. Māori experiences of abuse in care 181. The Royal Commission has also been conducting a specific investigation into Māori experiences of abuse in care.199 In March 2022, the Royal Commission heard from Māori survivors across a nine-day hearing period, with strong themes including the State’s failure to care for those placed in its care, and the ongoing harm the abuse has caused generations of whānau Māori. Several witnesses talked about their experiences being a spiral “from State care to gang life and prisons”.200 182. An independent research report presented to the Royal Commission has shown that structural and systemic racism across several government organisations was responsible for the overrepresentation of Māori in State care. The report, which was commissioned by the Crown Response to the Abuse in Care Inquiry, stated that successive Government policies focused on intentionally dismantling Māori communities and undermining whānau, hapū and iwi structures.201 The result is that Māori were, and continue to be, over-represented by up to ten times in the State care system. The report strongly suggests that future solutions must involve the Crown working in partnership with survivors, Iwi and Māori, across State agencies. 183. In August 2022, the Royal Commission released research it had conducted on the link between children and young people who had been placed in State care and then going on to serve a prison sentence.202 The research paper found that up to 42% of Māori who were in State care between 1950 and 1999 received a prison sentence later in life.203 These Māori were found to have been up to seven times more likely to receive a custodial sentence than Māori who had 199 Abuse in Care “Scope of investigation into Māori experiences of abuse in care” available at https://www.abuseincare.org.nz/our-progress/library/v/129/scope-of-investigation-into-maori-experiences-of-abusein-care. 200 Abuse in Care “Māori experiences of abuse in care” at https://www.abuseincare.org.nz/our-inquiries/maori-experienceof-abuse-in-care/. 201 Abuse in Care “Research report key themes - Hāh��-uri, hāhā-tea: Māori involvement in State Care 1950-1999” (15 December 2021) available at https://www.abuseinquiryresponse.govt.nz/documents/key-themes-from-research-reporton-maori-involvement-in-state-care/. See also Ihi Research “Hāhā uri, hāhā tea: Māori involvement in State care 19501999” (2021) available at https://www.abuseincare.org.nz/our-progress/library/v/306/haha-uri-haha-tea-maoriinvolvement-in-state-care-1950-1999; “Hāhā uri, hāhā tea – Desolate darkness, desolate light - Māori involvement in State care 1950-1999” (2021) available at https://www.abuseinquiryresponse.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/Maori-researchreport/2021-10-21-A3-overview-Haha-uri-haha-tea-Desolate-Darkness-desolate-light.pdf ; “Racism in government organisations responsible for Māori in care, independent research reveals” (11 November 2021) available at https://www.abuseincare.org.nz/our-progress/news/racism-in-government-organisations-responsible-for-maori-in-careindependent-research-reveals/. 202 Abuse in Care “Care to Custody: Incarceration Rates” (August 2022) available at https://www.abuseincare.org.nz/ourprogress/library/v/500/care-to-custody-incarceration-rates-researchreport#:~:text=For%20M%C4%81ori%20children%20and%20young,demographics%20ended%20up%20in%20prison. 203 Ibid., at 9. 42