Safeguarding
Safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults
It's very important to us that everyone should be safe, happy and welcome at St Paul's, and our safeguarding procedures reflect this priority.
Our Cathedral Safeguarding Officer is Mere Montgomery, and our Bright Lights Co-ordinator is Rachel Slade, and together with The Dean, and our Churchwardens, Andrew Thompson and Theodore Rose, they help to make sure that our safeguarding policy is followed and that our Police Checks and Safeguarding Training are up-to-date.
Everyone who works regularly with Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults at the Cathedral will go through a Police check process and receive ongoing training on how to create and maintain a safe and welcoming environment. Occasional volunteers always work with someone who has been through this process, under the direct supervision of a trained individual. Everyone at St Paul’s is required to follow good practice in safeguarding (see below).
Making a Complaint
If you need to make a complaint about an office bearer in the Anglican Church (for example, a priest, deacon, bishop, licensed lay minister, trustee, etc.) we encourage you to put it in writing and send it directly to the independent Registrar.
Ministry Standards Registrar
c/- P O Box 87188,
Meadowbank,
Auckland 1742
registrar@anglicanchurch.org.nz
If there is immediate risk to someone, contact New Zealand Police | Nga Pirihimana O Aotearoa.
Royal Commission on Abuse in Care
The Royal Commission of Inquiry was established on 1 February 2018 to investigate what happened to children, young people and adults in State care and in the care of faith-based institutions in Aotearoa New Zealand between 1950 and 1999.
On 25 June 2024 the Inquiry presented its Final Report – Whanaketia – to the Governor-General. The report included recommendations on how Aotearoa New Zealand can better care for children, young people and adults in State and faith-based care.
The focus of the Commission has been on ‘Abuse in Care’ with reference to:
State-run institutions
Faith-based institutions
The second of these categories included the Church’s care of children, young people and vulnerable adults in our churches, schools, orphanages, elder care homes, and other ministries governed and managed by Anglican based Social Services (including residential care homes for the elderly) and Anglican Family Care.
The Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia, including the Diocese of Dunedin, has been committed to engaging with the Commission and its work, and doing everything it can to assist the Commission fulfilling its purposes.
The Archbishops released a statement following the publication of the final report - You can read the full statement here.
You can find out more about Royal Commission on Abuse in Care and read the final report here: www.abuseincare.org.nz
Getting Help from outside
NEED HELP AND SUPPORT NOW?
Reach out for some help. Talk with someone you trust, see a doctor or counsellor, or call 1737 to speak to a trained counsellor, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Safeguarding Procedures and Further Help
You can download the Diocesan Safeguarding Policy here.
You can also see all of the policies for Safeguarding on the Diocese of Dunedin Website.