Minister for Social Development Paula Bennett has released the following statement in response to calls for a government apology to hundreds of child migrants sent to New Zealand.
It follows an apology made by Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on Monday to "Forgotten Australians".
Statement from Paula Bennett's office:
"We know life was difficult for many of the British children brought here. That's why 10 years ago the previous National government set up a process to find and inform them of what help was available to them.
"Fortunately, the situation here was very different to that in Australia.
"New Zealand received 549 child migrants between 1948 and 1954.
"Unlike Australia, the majority of children who came here under the British migrant scheme were deliberately placed into foster care rather than into state institutions. A number of safeguards were introduced to care for the new arrivals.
"In 1998 - following a British government review of the migrant scheme - the previous National government instigated a programme to seek out all child migrants to make them aware of assistance that was available.
"That included the setting up of a support/travel fund to help them reunite with their family in Britain.
"The New Zealand government also addressed a citizenship issue that occurred for child migrants by allowing them to apply for New Zealand Citizenship at no cost.
"For many of the children brought here, the experience of travelling so far from what was familiar will have had a profound effect on their lives."
