Find guidance to access records created about you (or whānau) by organisations involved in decisions about your guardianship or care.
People have shared how the process of getting your records can be challenging – both in terms of the range of emotions it can bring up, as well as the practical steps involved.
We hope Kōnae will make the process of getting your records easier and that this website will be a safe and empowering space for you.
Learn more about the story behind Kōnae.
You have a legal right to access records about you from organisations who hold them.
Kōnae has been designed and developed by Citizens Advice Bureauopen_in_new (CAB) together with people of lived experience and independently of government.
Survivors highlighted how important ‘trust’ is for people wanting to access their records. They thought people would have more trust in this website if it was independent of government.
CAB was identified as a trusted community service with experience and expertise in producing plain language information and helping people to know and understand their rights. CAB is honoured to be kaitiaki for this website.
Learn more about the story behind this websiteopen_in_new.
The name of this website, Kōnae, is inspired by a survivor who described retrieving his records as “hauling in a net that carries part of your life story”. Kōnae embodies the process of reclaiming what matters.
In te reo Māori, Kōnae refers to a file, a woven basket, and the belly of a fishing net—symbols of gathering, sifting, and keeping what’s valuable. Kōnae offers website users a place to recover, keep, or release parts of their history.
How to pronouce Kōnaeopen_in_new (press the icon next to "Kōnae").
This website is a response to one of the recommendations from the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.
People told the Royal Commission about the challenges they experienced when trying to access their records.
Survivors of abuse in care faced confusing processes, long delays, and were often denied access to their personal records.
Poor record-keeping led to incomplete, lost, or destroyed documents. When records did arrive, they were often heavily redacted, with most words blacked out.
Records can help people better understand the decisions made about their lives and can be an empowering step toward healing. They can also be helpful evidence for survivors of abuse who are seeking justice and redress.
The Royal Commission found widespread abuse and neglect and in some cases torture in state and faith-based institutions.
We tested with survivors how they felt about the use of the word “care” on this website. Many told us that 'care' is the opposite of what they experienced. They supported us in limiting the use of the word ‘care’ where we can.
That’s why on this website you will see us talk about ‘records’ instead of ‘care records’ and use phrases like ‘time spent in places like…’ instead of ‘being placed in care’.
Learn more about the language used on this website.open_in_newopen_in_new
Find information on redress and how survivors can make a claim.
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