Allegations of Abuse in Institutions
	Waiouru (NZ Army) - Index Timeline
	This page last updated March 1 2005 News Summary, including links to reports: 2004 October 3 A former Army cadet, Ian Fraser, publishes on the internet, allegations of systematic abuse in the Regular Force Cadet School. The allegations include a coverup about the details of the death of Cadet Bain, and suggesting that the abuse warrants compensation, acknowledgement and apology. █ In a second press release, Fraser invites other victims of abuse to contact him. █ October 4 Fraser's allegations are picked up by the media - that he and dozens of others endured sadistic punishments and group beatings, and some were even raped. █ The Defence Minister says complaints should be formally lodged. █ The Army also says complaints should be put in writing, so that they can be investigated. █ October 5 Two brothers from Te Awamutu, Bruce and Murray Bain reveal that they have been seeking justice for the fatal shooting of their brother, Grant Bain at Waiouru, by 17 year old corporal Andrew Read. They claim the death was made to look like an accident. █ █ The Government is encouraging army cadets who were physically or sexually abused while training to contact it, but says it is too early to consider the issue of compensation. █ Defence Minister Mark Burton has ordered an urgent inquiry into allegations. █ A Rotorua man, Bert Robinson, backs up the allegations of Fraser, saying that he still bears the scars of his time at the camp in 1973. █ Auckland man, Eric West tells of a beating he received that hospitalised him, and led to mental breakdown. █ A former cadet, Brian Main refers to being whacked by a rifle butt. █ Mike Subritzky said he raised concerns with the army in 1982 about abuses after he discovered injuries suffered by his nephew, John Subritzky. █ █ The policeman who handled the Bain complaint, Piers Hunt, believed the death should have been treated as manslaughter, but was overruled by his superiors. █ More claims include an admission that a man took part in the sexual abuse of another. Ian Fraser repeats demands for compensation October 6 Abuse claims are supported. An unnamed former sergeant claimed abuse was "institutionalised".█ Mike Subritzky reports more details █ Eric West singles out ex All Black Stan "Tiny" Hill as being a harsh disciplinarian and "totally unsuitable for the job. █ Chris Shone talks of escaping the school because of "brutal assaults." █ Darryl Nightingale describes the horrors he both witnessed and suffered as a 15-year-old cadet. █ Ian Fraser says he has received more than 100 emails from other cadets who had suffered at the school. █ A report of an army inquiry at the time of Bain's death confirms that violence was widespread and accepted. █ █ Abuse claims are disputed. The officer in charge when Bain died, Wayne Anker said "bullying was no worse than at boarding schools". He was backed by former cadets including NZ Maori rugby coach Matt Te Pou. █ NZ First MP Ron Mark says the same. █ Steve Older, a cadet in 1974, finds the "abuse allegations hard to believe" Colonel Brian Monk said he would be astounded if dedicated officers and NCOs were not doing the very best possible for the cadets" █ Former All-Black Stan "Tiny" Hill, who ran the barracks during the years the abuses took place said cadets were treated in a "proper military matter". He suspects "money may be behind the allegations". █ The Marlborough Express makes comment that abuse victims are now more easily able to speak out, and that genuine victims deserve acknowledgement, apology, counselling and compensation. The same editorial however also expresses concern that some allegations may be false and motivated by money. █. The Nelson Mail sees the need for a "full scale independent inquiry" █ A former MP, Marilyn Waring, backs an inquiry, █ which is promised by Defence Minister Burton █ October 7 More claims and counterclaims. Ian Fraser reports that he has been contacted by 300 cadet soldiers. █ Graham Beddie, a major in the army at the time says there was a "culture of abuse". A captain at the school Timothy Rabbidge, referred to "quite brutal bullying" █ A man identified as "Dave" says that the abuse was carried out by senior cadets █ An author and major, Richard Taylor details bullying and refers to the bullying as the single black mark on the cadet experience. █ Les Marston who was in the same class as Ian Fraser, disputes any suggestion of systematic abuse at the school. "I never once saw a beating or sexual attack". █ NZ First MP Ron Mark, also in the same class, denied there was a culture of abuse at the army school. █ █ Trevor Gilbert says Stan Hill was a fair man and he was not aware of any serious abuse. █ The motives for those making allegations have been questioned. Wayne Anker, once a commanding officer suggests highly publicised prison inmate payouts may be a factor. █ Compensation is also suggested as a motivating factor by columnist Garth George. █ The publicity has highlighted the case of the death of Grant Bain, with his brothers saying witnesses to the death have come forward. █ The case is reviewed with the suggestion that there may have been a whitewash, █ but the army denies that this was the case. █ The Waikato Times editorial says that it is important that there is a system so complaints can be made, acted on professionally, and any perpetrators apprehended. █ The NZ Herald says that soldiers should expect to be treated with dignity, and concludes that a credible independent commission is required. █ October 8 Two former Army cadets have complained of being sodomised at Waiouru, including one who says he was pack-raped six times. █ David Cruickshank, a former army cadet says that repeated abuse "completely skewed" his view of military life. █ In support of the Army, Tony Williams, a former army cadet at Waiouru has spoken out in defence of the Waiouru Cadet School, saying most of those alleging abuse would not have handled life regardless of their experiences as cadets. █ Official reaction includes the Defence Minister assuring that there will be an independent inquiry. █ The Chief of Army, Major General Mateparae calls for an internal report, █ and pledges support for an inquiry █ █ It was also reported that Andrew Read, the man who killed Waiouru army cadet Grant Bain, fell to his death in a West Coast forestry accident six years ago. █ October 9 Ian Fraser █ claims a campaign of disinformation, damage control, and play down the allegations has begun, and therefore a need for an independent inquiry. █ Former cadet Carl Gardner decided to speak out about the "barbaric" conditions that he experienced. █ The cadet who claimed he was pack raped six times (refer Oct 8) talks to One News █ An unnamed 52 yo Waikato man describes the horror he experienced. █ Lynley Hood warns of a possible witchhunt. █ Ex cadet Tracey Cooper, now a reporter, says there was no culture of violence and certainly nothing to be compensated for. █ The NZ Herald details information from the Bain Court of Inquiry. █ Defence Minister Mark Burton prepares for seeking Inquiry approval; and the Army continue with their report. █ A letter writer suggests that what happened at Waiouru reveals the NZ "culture" █ October 10 A psychologist explains the bizarre and frightening events that have been alleged at Waiouru. █ A discussion on the merits of "righting wrongs" or the "kiwi" way of pretending events did not occur. █ October 11 The Government confirms an investigation will be carried out. █ Andy Kyle, a sergeant at Waiouru adds to suggestions that there was a cover-up at the time of Bain's death. █ Former Army major Kev Smith ready to testify that brutality occurred. █ October 12 Defence Minister Burton will appoint an independent assessor to examine claims of abuse. █ The case leads to Questions in Parliament, with the Prime Minister saying that the Government has had 85 people coming forward with opinions on what happened. █ A 48 yo man named Ray, claims he was beaten about the testicles at the cadet school. █ October 13 A 47 yo man from Palmerston North recalls abuse. █ A Timaru man talks of abuse. █ The Bain family remain sceptical about a new police investigation into Grant Bain's death. █ A Manawatu Standard editorial reiterates Lynley Hood's call that due process must be followed, and that a witch hunt will do more damage. █ The Press editorial suggests avoiding large financial compensation, and that the victims' best recompense is that their stories be heard and the truth established. █ October 14 Ex cadet Michael Everett doesn't "want compensation" but "wants to see justice" █ An unnamed former officer says abuse "was likely" but "not condoned" █ Retired sergeant major Bob Davies says he does not believe claim of pack rape made by an ex cadet - "not credible". █ Independent Assessor expected to be announced soon. █ October 15 A Manawatu Standard editorial says allegations must not remain untested and unexamined. Natural Justice must prevail. █ October 18 Government not yet finalised details of inquiry. Expected later in week. █ A letter writer makes the point that even if the abuse was no worse than Boarding schools,"two wrongs don't make a right". █ October 19 Inquiry terms of reference to be considered by Cabinet. █ with announcement later █ █ Ex cadet Michael Everett says the distinction between Boarding School abuse and what occurred in the Army was "not subtle" █ The Bain family are upset inquiry will restrict investigation into Grant Bain's death. █ October 20 A Timaru Herald editorial urges caution with inquiry investigations. █ October 22 Government announces a Ministerial inquiry with retired judge David Morris as independent assessor. The terms of reference yet to be finalised. █ Important to separate mistreatment from more serious and criminal allegations █ National Party warns terms of reference critical, and has concerns about "closed shop" nature of Ministerial inquiry. █ Inquiry gains approval from Ian Fraser █ Turi Gibbs, a friend of Andrew Read says that Read felt deep remorse and shame for having killed Grant Bain. █ October 23 Ian Fraser's approval for inquiry reported. █ █ Murray Bain, brother of Grant Bain, criticises Oct 9 news report by Tracey Cooper. █ The Police appoint detective superintendent to investigate their handling of the death of Grant Bain. █ October 26 Marlborough Express editorial discusses sensitivities of inquiry head David Morris and previous controversy associated with him in 1996. █ The Waikato Times says Army history is worth reviewing. █ Don Robertson writes in a letter that there is no justification for the events alleged to have taken place at Waiouru. █ November 4 Defence Minister Mark Burton releases terms of reference for the inquiry - including all behaviour and treatment of cadets; the death of cadet Grant Bain; and claims that may be criminal. █ Allegations outside the scope of the inquiry to be referred to responsible organisations. █ Mark Burton asking anybody with concerns about school to contact him, or the Defence Force. █ Morris has until March 30 to report. █ December 8 Mental health patients upset that they cannot get inquiry similar to the Waiouru inquiry. █ 2005 March 1 Deadline for Ministerial Inquiry has been extended. "[David Morris] is taking a bit longer than initially thought" █