The Māori Party is urging the Government to reconsider whether there should be a Royal Commission of Inquiry into historic state care abuse.
Co-leader Marama Fox has spoken out after a Human Rights Commission report highlighted 17 cases where people with intellectual disabilities were abused in special schools and institutions.
She told Newshub that it was a disgusting revelation.
"Of course we believe that there would be more if we extrapolate that out over the number of institutions in this country - the incidences are horrific."
She said it was deeply personal for her party.
"These predominately are Māori children and young people who have been abused in state care and in other institutions- this has gone on far too long."
"A Royal Commission of Inquiry is the only way to do it - they've done it in Australia, Canada, England - they've uncovered endemic abuse across a number of institutions."
The study looked at the mistreatment of patients by staff in mental health facilities from the 1950s to the '90s.
Newshub.
