Lake Alice survivors awarded compensation of up to $600,000

Thursday 27 November 2025 · 9 outlets · 7 reports · updated Thu 27 Nov 2025, 6:18pm

In this story Erica Stanford, Paul Davison KC

Thirty-seven former patients of the Lake Alice psychiatric hospital have been awarded individual compensation between $160,000 and $600,000. This follows an independent report by arbiter Paul Davison KC regarding survivors of torture at the facility. Additionally, a significant privacy breach involving survivors' details has been referred to the Public Service Commissioner.

How they headlined it

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1. NZ HeraldThu 27 Nov 2025, 5:00am

   Abuse in Care: Lake Alice survivors allocated between $160,000 and $600,000 in redress payments (opens in new tab)

   • Abuse in Care: Lake Alice survivors’ details shared in ‘extremely serious’ privacy breach (opens in new tab) Thu 27 Nov 2025, 6:18pm
2. NewsroomThu 27 Nov 2025, 9:00am

   'Significant' breach of privacy of Lake Alice survivors, by Crown abuse office (opens in new tab)

3. StuffThu 27 Nov 2025, 10:12am

   Up to $600k in compensation awarded to Lake Alice survivors who opted out of expedited process (opens in new tab)

4. Otago Daily TimesThu 27 Nov 2025, 11:28am

   Compensation for Lake Alice patients revealed (opens in new tab)

5. Waikato Times via RNZThu 27 Nov 2025, 12:52pm

   37 former Lake Alice patients receive individual compensation payments of up to $600,000 (opens in new tab)

   Also on The Press (opens in new tab), RNZ (opens in new tab), The Post (opens in new tab)

6. 1News via RNZThu 27 Nov 2025, 12:59pm

   37 former Lake Alice patients get compensation of up to $600,000 (opens in new tab)