Last updated:
Thursday, 5 August 2021
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. A draft Terms of Reference has been written and will be finalised by the end of the year.
Kāpuia had its first meeting on Wednesday 30th of June, 2021 and have released the following statement (see below).
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
Deborah James
Edwina Pio
Eva Chen
Imam Gamal Fouda
Haris Murtaza
Jennifer Khan-Janif
Joycelyn Raffills
Katrina Azer
Kodrean Eashae
Maysoon Salama
Mai Tamimi
Mustafa Derbashi MNZM
Nissa Mowjood
Noeleen van de Lisdonck
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