Paula Bennett

Wellington, Nov 16 NZPA - The hundreds of children brought to New Zealand under British child migration schemes had a different fate than those sent to Australia, Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says.

"Unlike Australia, the majority of children who came here under the British migrant scheme were deliberately placed into foster care rather than into state institutions. A number of safeguards were introduced to care for the new arrivals," she said.

New Zealand received 549 child migrants between 1948 and 1954.

Ms Bennett said that 10 years ago the previous National government set up a process to find child migrants and tell them what help was available to them.

"In 1998 -- following a British government review of the migrant scheme -- the previous National government instigated a programme to seek out all child migrants to make them aware of assistance that was available to them.

"That included the setting up of a support/travel fund to help them reunite with their family in Britain.

"The New Zealand government also addressed a citizenship issue that occurred for child migrants by allowing them to apply for New Zealand citizenship at no cost."

Ms Bennett's statement comes after the Australian government said sorry today to thousands of children who suffered neglect and abuse, after being shipped to the country from Britain.

"Sorry for the tragedy, the absolute tragedy of childhoods lost," Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said at Parliament House in Canberra today.

"We look back in shame at how those with power were allowed to abuse those who had none."

It is thought that between 7000 and 10,000 children were sent to Australia from 1947 to 1967.

Many were brought up in institutions, by farmers or treated as child slaves.

The children were taken from poor or struggling families and told they were orphans, while their parents believed they were heading to a better life.

"Robbed of your families, robbed of your homeland, regarded not as innocent children but regarded instead as a source of child labour," Mr Rudd said during the Australian apology.

"We acknowledge today that the laws of our nation failed you, and for this we are deeply sorry."

The British government said on Sunday that Prime Minister Gordon Brown would apologise for the child migrant schemes that sent about 150,000 youngsters, from age 3 to 14, to former colonies.

British officials will consult with victim representative groups before making a formal apology next year.