He said he has spoken with Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey who is looking at the response from the family, and Doocey will respond in due course.
“We were all quite heartbroken about that story when we first heard about that.”
In March 2025, the kōtiro was taken to Waikato Hospital by police, who were concerned for her welfare after she was spotted in the middle of the road and climbing a bridge.
Police misidentified her as a missing 20-year-old mental health patient who was under a compulsory treatment order.
The whānau of the girl told RNZ the prime minister’s apology “means an awful lot” to them.
They wanted a formal apology from the prime minister and greater accountability from the state.
In a statement sent last week, the whānau of the kōtiro said she was still experiencing “traumatic flashbacks” because she felt unsafe and the whole process had been both overwhelming and daunting.
They have sought apologies from the Prime Minister, Cabinet and the five ministers responsible for Health, Mental Health, Disability Issues, Police, Crown Relations and their respective agencies.
They also want an independent review of disabled people’s experiences across all government agencies, “meaningful reform” of the rights and wellbeing of autistic people and minors, and more awareness to prevent similar harm from occurring.
Asked if he would consider compensating the whānau, Luxon said Doocey would give “due consideration to all of those issues in due course”.
He said Doocey, along with Health Minister Simeon Brown, was putting the issue “into process”.
“To make sure we get a review and actually get visibility, put sunlight on what actually happened there. All I can say is, just as a human being to that family, we’re incredibly sorry about that.” he said.
Labour’s leader Chris Hipkins backed the government to respond.
“It’s an absolutely tragic situation and I don’t want to politicise that, because I don’t have access to all of the information that the government will have access to. I hope that they will get to the bottom of exactly what happened and they will make the right decision.”