Moment of Acknowledgement
Today we pause to mark the first anniversary of Presbyterian Support Otago’s public apology for the harm and suffering experienced by children in our care.
This is a moment of remembrance and accountability — we stand again today in acknowledgment of our past, and in shared responsibility for shaping a future where care is grounded in integrity, respect, courage, manaaki and aroha.
We know that harm and abuse are not only part of history. Across Aotearoa, and within every human system, there remains the potential for failure — when power goes unchecked, when hierarchy is not questioned, and when institutions serve their own needs instead of the people they exist for.
At PSO we have made a shared commitment — as governors, leaders, and colleagues — to practices that are transparent, relational, and life-giving.
This sits at the heart of our Restorative Leadership pou.
Restoration is not a single act or a public apology; it’s a way of being.
It calls us to listen deeply, act justly, and take shared responsibility for systems that uphold the mana of all.
We are continuing to grow and learn. We are working to ensure that the voices of people in our care are heard, valued, and prioritised — even when that is challenging.
This is how we honour those we failed, and how we build care we can be proud of today.
And so, in a spirit of remembrance, responsibility, and hope, I invite us now to take a minute of silence —
to hold in our thoughts the children who suffered harm, those still living with its effects, and all who continue to work towards safety, healing, and trust.