Child Abuse Judge Says No 'Establishment' In NZ

By Tom Parmenter
Sky News
February 11, 2015

http://news.sky.com/story/1425723/child-abuse-judge-says-no-establishment-in-nz

Justice Goddard appearing before MPs

The new chair of the Child Abuse Inquiry has insisted she has no links to the British Establishment.

New Zealand judge Justice Lowell Goddard revealed that, since arriving in the UK, she had to check what British people meant by the term "establishment".

She told MPs during her first public engagement since being appointed: "We don't have such a thing in my country.

"Do I have any links into any institution or person relevant to the subject matter? … No, I don't," she said. 

The two women previously appointed by Home Secretary Theresa May both had to step down after their links to powerful people who may have been part of the investigations.

The mishandling of Baroness Butler-Sloss' and Dame Fiona Woolf's appointments led to heavy criticism from survivors of abuse and campaigners.

Speaking to MPs in Westminster two days after arriving from New Zealand, Justice Goddard said she expected the inquiry to run for three or four years and described it as "the biggest challenge I have yet faced".

When pressed on how she would attempt to rebuild trust she said: "I think just get on with the job, results speak for themselves, don't they?"

Justice Goddard told MPs that she has to return to New Zealand soon to sort out her relocation to the UK and hopes to start work properly in April.

Keith Vaz MP, chair of the Home Affairs select committee told Justice Goddard: "The eyes of the whole country are upon you ... we wish you the very best of luck."