Inquiry Scope

The Terms of Reference for the Independent Inquiry were finalised by the Inquirers after a feedback process involving Old Boy survivors, family members and the wider Dilworth community. The terms set out the purpose of the Inquiry, its scope, the Inquiry processes and the date for delivering the Inquiry report.

The Inquiry will review the nature and extent of sexual and serious physical abuse of Dilworth School students, from 1950 until the end date of the Inquiry. The scope of the Inquiry includes:

The factors that caused or contributed to the occurrence of sexual and serious physical abuse to students of Dilworth School, including:
- structural, systematic or cultural causes
- the actions or omissions of the School, its trustees and staff and well as other persons in committing, allowing or encouraging the abuse
- the vetting, recruitment, training, performance, management and supervision of staff and others involved in the provision of care
- the School’s policies and procedures available at the relevant times to raise concerns, or make complaints, about abuse
- the culture of the School at the relevant times, including the kinds of conduct allowed or encouraged between students of the School.
The acts and omissions of the School, its trustees, officers and staff in responding to, or addressing, complaints of abuse, including:
- whether those persons were aware, or should have been aware, of the abuse that occurred at the School;
- what, if anything, they did in response to any complaints of abuse;
- whether there were any attempts made to conceal or suppress knowledge or reporting of instances of abuse;
- whether the response to complaints of abuse (including pastoral care and redress) was consistent with good practice at the time the abuse occurred.
The School’s current policies and procedures and whether these are fully adequate to protect the health and wellbeing of current and future students.

The final Dilworth Independent Inquiry Terms of Reference can be found by clicking the following link:

Independent Inquiry Terms of Reference

The final Dilworth Independent Inquiry Terms of Reference Te reo Maori can be found by clicking the following link:

Terms of Reference Te reo Maori

We are developing processes to achieve the purpose of the Inquiry, as set out in the Terms of Reference. This website will be updated as these developments are finalised. Click here if you would like to be kept informed of future updates regarding the Dilworth Independent Inquiry.