Kāpuia – Ministerial Advisory Group

Members of Kāpuia, secretariat staff and elders of Ngā Hau e Whā National Marae during their two-day marae hui in Christchurch in July 2022.

Kāpuia provides independent advice to the Government on its response to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the terrorist attack on Christchurch mosques, and to make New Zealand a safer, more inclusive country for everyone.

The name Kāpuia reflects the importance of the group’s work for the future of Aotearoa New Zealand. Kāpuia comes from the whakataukī or proverb “Ki te Kotahi te kākaho ka whati, ki te kāpuia e kore e whati”. This whakataukī means if there is only one reed, it breaks easily, but gather many together they will not break. For our mahi, our work, these reeds reflect the different cultures in New Zealand, and when we all come together, we are strong and cannot be broken. By standing together in New Zealand, we will enhance social cohesion and create a safer country for everyone - by being together we cannot help but have each other’s backs. 

The Group was established in response to recommendation 44 of the Royal Commission of Inquiry report: to establish an Implementation Oversight Advisory Group. 

Advice from Kāpuia

Kāpuia releases information about its meetings to enhance transparency about its work programme, usually after matters have been considered by Ministers. Click the linke below to view Kāpuia’s advice to the Lead Coordination Minister on the Government’s Response to the Royal Commission of Inquiry, Hon. Andrew Little, and his responses.

Click here to read Advice from Kāpuia

Kāpuia Pānui

The Kāpuia Pānui (newsletter) is a regular digest of information of interest to Kāpuia members. Kāpuia members typically receive these Pānui via email in between their scheduled hui meetings. Click on the link below to view the Pānui for 2022.

Click here to read Kāpuia Pānui 

Members of Kāpuia

The Chair of the Ministerial Advisory Group is Arihia Bennett MNZM (also the CEO of Ngāi Tahu).

The members of the Ministerial Advisory Group are:

Arihia Bennett MNZM (chair)

Abdur Razzaq Khan

Aliya Danzeisen

Arif Ali

Bariz Shah

Bernard O'Donnell

Claire Appleby-Phillips

Edwina Pio

Eva Chen

Imam Gamal Fouda

Haris Murtaza

Jennifer Khan-Janif

Joycelyn Raffills

Katherine Dedo

Katrina Azer

Kodrean Eashae

Maysoon Salama

Melani Anae

Mustafa Derbashi MNZM

Nissa Mowjood

Noeleen Van de Lisdonk

Parminder Kaur

Patrick O'Connor

Radiya Ali

Richard Leung

Tahirah Moton

Shaystah Dean

Stephen Goodman

These twenty-eight people are from diverse backgrounds across Aotearoa, and include affected whānau, survivors and witnesses, representative communities, civil society, local government and the private sector. 

If you have questions about the Group or would like to get in contact, please email kapuia@dpmc.govt.nz