Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu chief executive Arihia Bennett MNZM has been appointed chair of the newly appointed Ministerial
Advisory Group on the Government’s Response to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the terrorist attack on Christchurch
mosques.
“Twenty-eight people from diverse backgrounds across Aotearoa have been selected for the Ministerial Advisory Group,”
Lead Coordination Minister for the Government Response to the Royal Commission of Inquiry Andrew Little said.
“I’m pleased with the broad range of skills and experience members will bring to the group, encompassing leadership,
collaboration and advocacy.
“The membership includes affected whānau, survivors and witnesses, representative communities, civil society, local
government and the private sector.
“We want to ensure we have representation from all our diverse communities, and will be talking to Pacific, rainbow,
disability and rural communities for potential candidates to join the group,” Andrew Little said.
The group is being established in response to recommendation 44 of the Royal Commission of Inquiry report: Establish an Implementation Oversight Advisory Group.
The Ministerial Advisory Group will play a key role in providing independent advice to the Government on the way it
implements the commission’s recommendations.
“I’m looking forward to working with Arihia and the group as we respond to the recommendations of the Royal Commission
and make New Zealand a safer, more inclusive country for everyone,” Andrew Little said.
The full list of Ministerial Advisory Group members is:
Arihia Bennett (chair)
Abdur Razzaq Khan
Aliya Danzeisen
Dr Arif Ali
Bariz Shah
Bernard O'Donnell
Claire Appleby-Phillips
Deborah James
Dr Edwina Pio
Eva Chen
Iman Gamal Fouda
Haris Murtaza
Jennifer Khan-Janif
Jos Raffills
Katrina Azer
Kodrean Eashae
Dr Maysoon Salama
Dr Mai Tamimi
Mustafa Derbashi
Nissa Mowjood
Noeleen van de Lisdonck
Parminder Kaur
Patrick O'Connor
Radiya Ali
Richard Leung
Tahirah Moton
Dr Shaystah Dean
Stephen Goodman