Rev. Frank Ritchie interviewing Aaron Smale about his work covering the Abuse in State Care inquiry. Photo: Stephanie Soh Lavemaau
When Aaron Smale received a phone call from a sister he never knew existed one Christmas Day, it left him with more questions than answers.
Aaron’s subsequent investigation into state welfare abuse, and the racist underbelly that enabled it to go unchallenged for years, would ultimately lead to his award-winning exposé of Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital – an epicentre of some of New Zealand’s most shameful abuse.
In this kōrero with broadcaster and media chaplain Rev Frank Ritchie, Aaron discusses his personal experience in the state system, the Abuse in Care Inquiry his journalism brought about, and the personal toll of telling stories involving immense trauma.
re_covering is a Media Chaplaincy New Zealand podcast series produced for RNZ by Love It Media.
Listen free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Google Podcasts or any good podcast app.
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