WELLINGTON, Oct. 29 -- New Zealand: In a two-week public hearing, survivors of child abuse testified before a New Zealand state commission.

The commission publicly quizzed witnesses in a large-scale probe into child abuse on Tuesday, with two abuse survivors testifying at the opening of the public hearing.

Authorities in New Zealand took 100,000 victims, including children and adults, from their families between 1950 and 1999. The overwhelming majority of children taken under state care were Maori, according to officials.

The officials will also hear a total of 28 witnesses, including activists, academics and lawyers by November 8.

In early 2018, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the launch of the inquiry, describing it as a "ch...