June 03, 2022
Kidman to head anti-terror research center
Professor Joanna Kidman from Ngāti Maniapoto and Ngāti Raukawa has been appointed director of the new Centre for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism.
The national centre of research excellence is a response to recommendation 14 of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the terrorist attack on Christchurch masjidain.
It will be hosted by Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington
For the first year, Professor Kidman will be assisted by Distinguished Professor Emeritus Paul Spoonley, a renowned expert in demographics, racism, the far right, white supremacism and antisemitism.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says the centre will help us to be a more resilient, inclusive and safer Aotearoa New Zealand.
It will play a key role in bringing together research organisations, civil society, and government to research how to prevent and counter-terrorism and violent extremism, with a focus on understanding diversity and promoting social cohesion.
The Prime Minister also announced the first 11 recipients of the centre’s He Whenua Taurikura Master’s Scholarships, supporting research that will contribute to developing and maintaining breadth, depth and diversity of expertise in preventing and countering violent extremism.