“Instead of receiving care and support, children, young people and adults in care were exposed to unimaginable physical, emotional, mental and sexual abuse, severe exploitation and neglect,” the report says.
An estimated 655,000 children, young people and adults were in care during the period under review, from 1950 to 2019.
“It cannot be emphasised enough that many of the victims of abuse and neglect, including of serious abuse, were children,” the report said.
Dilworth School in Epsom, Auckland, was singled out as a place with one of the highest levels of sexual abuse reported.
“There is evidence to suggest physical and sexual abuse were used as punishment as well as to intimidate.

Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care: What the final report says