A government Royal Commission of Inquiry into historical abuse in state care is to be set up and it will be chaired by Sir Anand Satyanand, respected lawyer, judge and former ombudsman and governor general. It is expected to take three years and will doubtless cost many taxpayer dollars. Public submissions on the issues are requested.

It is to be hoped that, at its conclusion, the preponderance of Maori and Pacific Island children in state care is not blamed on colonisation, and the solutions to the problems not be made entirely the government's responsibility.

I hope that Sir Anand's comment "Through truth comes joy" will extend to full and frank investigation, and that the issues of parental responsibility and of differing ethnic and cultural practices be researched and reported accurately and completely.

B Johnson, Omokoroa.