He Whenua Taurikura is New Zealand’s National Centre of Research Excellence for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism. He Whenua Taurikura translates to ‘a country at peace’.
He Whenua Taurikura was established in response to recommendation 14 of the Royal Commission of Inquiry report into the terrorist attack on Christchurch masjidain to “establish a programme to fund independent New Zealand-specific research on the causes of, and measures to prevent, violent extremism and terrorism”.
The Centre brings together research organisations and institutes, civil society organisations, and government to research preventing and countering violent extremism, with a focus on understanding diversity and promoting social cohesion.
He Whenua Taurikura's work supports public discussion on preventing and countering violent extremism and guides policy work across government. The Centre has a very specific Aotearoa New Zealand focus and along with countering terrorism and violent extremism, will focus on wider understanding of diversity and promoting social cohesion.
Hosted by Te Herenga Waka | Victoria University of Wellington, He Whenua Taurikura is led by Co-Directors Professor Joanna Kidman and Distinguished Professor Paul Spoonley.
A Governance Board will oversee the work of the Centre. The Board will be comprised of tangata whenua, researchers, civil society representatives and government representatives. Applications for the Governance Board have recently closed and appointments will be announced shortly.
You can read more about the launch of He Whenua Taurikura here and visit the official website here.
He Whenua Taurikura annual hui
He Whenua Taurikura hosts an annual hui on countering terrorism and violent extremism. The purpose of these hui is to: promote public conversation, understanding and research on radicalisation; look at how to challenge hate-motivated extremist ideologies; and cover priorities to address Aotearoa New Zealand’s terrorism and violent extremism issues.
Read more about the He Whenua Taurikura annual hui here.
He Whenua Taurikura Master’s Scholarship
The He Whenua Taurikura Master’s Scholarship has been created to encourage and support postgraduate research on countering and preventing terrorism and violent extremism. The scholarship is intended to support research carried out at a New Zealand university or tertiary institute that will contribute to developing and maintaining breadth, depth and diversity of expertise in preventing and countering violent extremism.
In 2021/22, eleven students from across Aotearoa New Zealand received the He Whenua Taurikura Master’s Scholarship.
Read more about the 2021/2022 He Whenua Taurikura Master’s Scholarship recipients here.
You can learn more about the scholarship and apply at the He Whenua Taurikura official website.
Get in touch
For more information on He Whenua Taurikura, please contact [email protected]