I’m pleased to say that we have received information, evidence and insights vital to the inquiry through this route,” says Sir William
Meetings with families and survivors continue in private and with the greatest respect for all of those affected by the traumatic events in Christchurch on 15 March 2019.

The Muslim Community Reference Group has now met with the Royal Commission three times and there is active engagement with Muslim communities.

“We have always maintained the importance of meeting with community members, to gain insights and guidance to help the inquiry,” says Jacqui Caine.

Meetings have also been held with the following people and organisations recently:

• Ibrahim Ali, Chairman, Somali Education and Development Trust
• Anita Balakrishnan, former Director Office of Ethnic Communities
• Gregory Fortuin, former Race Relations Conciliator
• Paul Hunt, Human Rights Commission
• Ziena Jalil, Advisory Board Member for New Zealand Asian Leaders; an Established Member of Super Diverse Women; Consulting Partner, Senate SHJ
• Omar Khan, President and Sara Afsharpur, Vice President, University of Auckland Muslim Students’ Association
• Chris Laidlaw, former Race Relations Conciliator
• Laulu Mac Leauanae, Chief Executive, Ministry for Pacific Peoples
• Musa Botan Mohammed, Chairman; Anne Lee, Manager; Shaima’a Al-Badri, Social Worker; Khurshed Shah, Social Worker; Bahja Ali, Social Worker; and Whitney Jessett, Administrator; Umma Trust
• John Ryan, Controller and Auditor-General
• Mohammad Soliman, President and Mohammad Saad Hassan, Vice President, Auckland University of Technology Muslim Students’ Association
• Christine Stevenson, Chief Executive, Department of Corrections
• The Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand
• Islamic Women’s Council of New Zealand

The Royal Commission now has an established secretariat both in Wellington and in Christchurch and is gathering evidence and insights at pace, while ramping up community engagement progressively.

“We still have much to do, to follow every active line of inquiry to its conclusion, hear the views of the community and ultimately meet public expectations by presenting robust findings and recommendations for the future,” says Sir William.

-ENDS-

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