He Whenua Taurikura is New Zealand’s National Centre of Research Excellence for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism. He Whenua Taurikura translates to ‘a country at peace’.
He Whenua Taurikura was established in response to recommendation 14 of the Royal Commission of Inquiry report into the terrorist attack on Christchurch masjidain to “establish a programme to fund independent New Zealand-specific research on the causes of, and measures to prevent, violent extremism and terrorism”.
The Centre brings together research organisations and institutes, civil society organisations, and government to research preventing and countering violent extremism, with a focus on understanding diversity and promoting social cohesion.
The Centre operates independently of Government as a charitable trust. A Governance Board of trustees, comprised of tangata whenua, researchers, civil society members and a government representative, oversees the Centre’s work. Details of the Board are available on the Centre’s website.
You can read more about the launch of He Whenua Taurikura here and visit the official website here.
He Whenua Taurikura annual hui
He Whenua Taurikura hosts an annual hui on countering terrorism and violent extremism. The purpose of these hui is to: promote public conversation, understanding and research on radicalisation; look at how to challenge hate-motivated extremist ideologies; and cover priorities to address Aotearoa New Zealand’s terrorism and violent extremism issues.
Read more about the He Whenua Taurikura annual hui here.
Get in touch
For more information on He Whenua Taurikura, please contact [email protected]