Collins focuses on what is being done in response to terrorist attack recommendations – but RNZ tells us what won’t be done
The headline on a press statement from Judith Collins today blandly advised:
March 15 coordinated response concludes
The first paragraph elaborated just as blandly:
Government has concluded the coordinated cross-government response to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Terrorist Attack on Christchurch Mosques, Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins says.
The statement continued:
“March 15 2019 was one of the darkest days in New Zealand’s history, and one we will never forget,” Ms Collins says.
“The Royal Commission of Inquiry raised a number of issues around safety and security, and work has been ongoing to address those concerns.
“Now, five years since that terrible day and in light of that ongoing work, it is the right time to conclude the coordinated response. However, that does not mean the work stops.”
This was enough for the New Zealand Herald’s Anna Leask, whose report was headed:
The statement continued:
“March 15 2019 was one of the darkest days in New Zealand’s history, and one we will never forget,” Ms Collins says.
“The Royal Commission of Inquiry raised a number of issues around safety and security, and work has been ongoing to address those concerns.
“Now, five years since that terrible day and in light of that ongoing work, it is the right time to conclude the coordinated response. However, that does not mean the work stops.”
This was enough for the New Zealand Herald’s Anna Leask, whose report was headed:
Christchurch terror attack: Government response complete but work ‘ongoing’ to keep Kiwis safe in future
She kicked off:
The Government’s response to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Christchurch terror attack is complete – but “that does not mean the work stops” to keep New Zealanders safe in future.
Other journalists read further into the press statement to find:
The coordinated response, led by the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, has thoroughly considered the 44 recommendations that spanned multiple areas and government agencies. Thirty-six have either been implemented or are being integrated into ongoing work programmes, while the remaining eight will not be progressing.
RNZ accordingly reported:
Government won’t progress remaining 8 recommendations of Christchurch terror attack commission
The government won’t be progressing the final eight recommendations of the Royal Commission into the terrorist attack on Christchurch mosques.
The nugget sniffed out by RNZ is in paragraph five of the first of the latest posts on the Government’s official website:
Latest from the Beehive
2 August 2024
The Government has concluded the coordinated cross-government response to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Terrorist Attack on Christchurch Mosques, Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins says.
John Rae has been appointed chair of Landcorp Farming Limited (Pāmu), State Owned Enterprises Minister Paul Goldsmith says.
1 August 2024
The government has reaffirmed its commitment to restoring the health of the Waikato River with Te Arawa.
In her statement, Judith Collins said government agencies – especially in the national security community – had made significant, enduring changes in the five years since March 15 2019,
The initiatives include:
- The creation of New Zealand’s first National Security Strategy, Secure Together Tō Tātou Korowai Manaaki;
- the establishment of the Firearms Safety Authority;
- the establishment of the Ministry for Ethnic Communities;
- the public release of Know the Signs – a guide for identifying signs of violent extremism;
- the publication of the first New Zealand Security Threat Environment Report;
- the Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism Strategic Fund for community-based prevention initiatives; and
- the establishment of the Ethnic Communities Graduate Programme.
“Any remaining work will be embedded into what government agencies do every day,” Ms Collins says.
“Our commitment remains the same: to ensure a safe and secure country for all our communities.”
Decisions on all the recommendations and a response summary are available on the DPMC website.
“We know the 51 people who died on 15 March will never be forgotten. We will continue the annual anniversary broadcast of the Adhan (call to prayer). The Government is also considering establishing an appropriate memorial to honour the shuhada,” Ms Collins says.
“We acknowledge the March 15 survivors, the affected families and the witnesses to the attacks, who have all been at the centre of the response from the beginning.
“We acknowledge, too, the First Responders who undertook their work with courage and with compassion. To the medical staff, the ambulance staff, Police, NZDF personnel and all those involved in trying to save lives and prevent further loss of life, we thank you for your service.
“And thank you to all those involved for sharing your stories and perspectives, and contributing to this important work.”
RNZ went further, noting that the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Terrorist Attack on Christchurch Mosques released its report in December 2020. The then Labour government promised to implement all of its 44 recommendations.
In February, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said Collins was going through the recommendations with an aim to “to bring resolution”.
Today Collins announced the government response “has concluded”.
RNZ sifted through the list of the recommendations being progressed and ascertained that the ones not being worked on include:
- 2. Establish a new national intelligence and security agency. Response: A separate agency will not be established, with the head of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) designated as National Security Advisor. DPMC has made organisational changes to separate the department’s national security functions from its risk, governance, and crisis management functions. There are already a set of performance monitoring, oversight, and reporting mechanisms in place for national security agencies.
- 7. Establish an Advisory Group on counter-terrorism via legislation. Response: An advisory group will not be established. In the time since the Royal Commission reported, mechanisms for hearing and incorporating community, civil society, local government, and private sector advice into counter-terrorism activities have significantly increased and improved.
- 8 Include a summary of advice from the Advisory Group from the previous year, and the actions taken, in the annual National Security Intelligence Priorities threatscape report. Response: With no advisory group set up, the advice will not be included. Civil society views will be incorporated into advice on National Security Intelligence Priorities or threatscape reporting through existing channels.
- 12. Develop and promote a system allowing the public to easily and safely report concerning behaviours or incidents. Response: A separate system to report concerning behaviours and incidents will not be established. Existing threat reporting channels are sufficient, and investment will be reprioritised.
- 24. Introduce mandatory reporting of firearms injuries to police by health professionals. Response: Mandatory reporting will not be pursued. As of 2020, Health practitioners are required to report firearms injuries if they believe a licence holder should not be permitted to use or own firearms due to a health condition.
- 27. Direct DPMC and other relevant agencies to discuss with whānau, survivors and witnesses of the March 15 attack what restorative justice processes might be desired and how these might be designed and resourced. Response: The Government has adopted a restorative approach regarding the affected community. This has been through the establishment of wraparound coordinated support to the affected community, and opportunities for the affected community to have their voices heard throughout the delivery of services and the Government’s response to the Royal Commission Report.
- 40. Repeal section 131 of the Human Rights Act 1993 and insert a provision in the Crimes Act 1961 for an offence of inciting racial or religious disharmony, based on an intent to stir up, maintain or normalise hatred, through threatening, abusive, or insulting communications with protected characteristics that include religious affiliation. Response: The Government has committed not to change hate speech legislation under the coalition agreement between the National Party and New Zealand First.
- 41. Amend the definition of “objectionable” in section 3 of the Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act 1993 to include racial superiority, racial hatred and racial discrimination. Response: Work on hate speech (recommendation 40) has stopped and these two recommendations were intended to be a package. If Recommendation 41 were to be progressed in isolation, it would raise the risk of duplication and inconsistency of offences between section 131 of the Human Rights Act and the Classification Act.
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