Warning - this article discusses sexual abuse and may distress some readers.
A 70-year old survivor of sexual abuse has recounted to the inquiry into abuse in care how the Social Welfare home she was in let her abusive father take her out, where he abused her again.
Known to the Royal Commission as Ms T, she was physically and sexually abused by her father.
Ms T told the inquiry that her father started sexually abusing her at the age of 4 or 5. In later life she discovered he had been abusing her other siblings as well.
At the age of 13, she ran away and told Social Welfare about what was happening at home.
She spoke to a woman at the Lower Hutt office.
''She wouldn't have a bar of it, she wouldn't listen to me, she told me to get the hell out. She said I was a liar.''
Ms T ran away, but was found by police and then ended up in Social Welfare care at the Miramar Girls' Home.
''All of the time I have been trying to tell them that what I have told them is the truth, it was happening to me.''
''It's not like I was a bad person or like I was made out. I was a juvenile delinquent, I hadn't done anything wrong, I tried to get myself help.''
She ended up in court and the Magistrate told her she was lower than the earth itself to accuse a good man of doing these terrible things.
"That day in the Lower Hutt court changed the way I think. It made me very frightened, very scared."
"It stayed with me all my life, trying to prove that what I have been saying all these years is bloody true."
She was made a ward of the state as the Social Welfare Department believed she was a delinquent child.
She was sent to the Strathmore Girls' Home in Christchurch.
There they were worked like slaves.
''Mainly it was us girls doing all the work. We would prepare vegetables for tea. Cleaning brass door knobs and handles and stuff all round the windows, polish all that up. We just worked all day.''
On one occasion her father was allowed to visit her and take her out for the day.
"It's not right he was able to see me right under their wings really, I mean they should have just opened up a bedroom for him in the girls' home really and said, there she is just go for it."
"To be labelled the way I was and the way I was treated, I was just trying to get help for myself. Someone to just stop this man from doing what he was doing to me, smothering his filth all over me."
Her father took her to the hotel he was staying at.
"He was saying things like, he could get to me any time he wants to. The welfare didn't care about you. Said all sorts of things like that and then he had his way with me."
Reflecting on her life she spoke about a lack of cultural identity, difficulties with relationships, health problems and a lack of confidence.
"I have just existed, doing everything I have to do but what happened to me has had a hell of a bearing on every decision I have made in my life."
"I just hope you believe my story. I've carried it for over 57 years now. I am sure you will do your best to change everything that is happening for these young ones coming through, she said."
"If one young child from not being believed along the road, I am only too glad to be here."
An emotional Chair of the Royal Commission, Judge Coral Shaw told Ms T that she was believed.
"You have moved me deeply and my tears I share with you."
Where to get help:
Victim Support 0800 842 846
Rape Crisis 0800 88 33 00
HELP Call 24/7 (Auckland): 09 623 1700, (Wellington): be 04 801 6655 - 0
Safe to talk: a 24/7 confidential helpline for survivors, support people and those with harmful sexual behaviour: 0800044334.
Mosaic - Tiaki Tangata Peer support for males who have experienced trauma and sexual abuse: 0800 94 22 94
