This Inquiry was led by a Chair and group of Commissioners. The Chair and Commissioners were supported by a secretariat led by an Executive Director. Two lead Senior Counsel Assisting the Inquiry were also appointed.

Commissioners

Coral Shaw
Chair
November 2019 – June 2024

Coral was first a teacher and then a lawyer in Auckland. As a District Court judge in West Auckland, she introduced a first fast track system for family violence cases which included advocates for family abuse victims. Coral later served as a Judge of the New Zealand Employment Court and then a Judge of the United Nations Dispute Tribunal.

Dr Andrew Erueti
November 2019 – June 2024

Andrew (Ngā Ruahinerangi, Ngāti Ruanui, Te Āti Haunui-a-Pāpārangi) is Associate Professor at the University of Auckland Faculty of Law. He has published extensively in New Zealand and overseas on indigenous rights and human rights in international law. Between 2008 and 2012, he was Amnesty International’s lead adviser on Indigenous rights, based in London and the United Nations office in Geneva. Andrew has advised Māori and other Indigenous peoples on claims to the Waitangi Tribunal and the United Nations.

Paul Gibson QSO
November 2019- June 2024

Paul was the Disability Rights Commissioner at the Human Rights Commission from 2011 to 2017. He was a former President of the Disabled People's Assembly, and chaired the Global Network of National Human Rights Institutions disability caucus. He previously worked as an independent disability consultant, in health, tertiary education, a farmer, and as a musician. Paul is blind and uses Braille and speech output technology.

Former Commissioners

Judge Ali’imuamua Sandra Alofivae, MNZM
Former Commissioner November 2018 – August 2023

Ali'imuamua Sandra Alofivae MNZM practised law in Onehunga, specialising in child and family law, adoption, youth justice, domestic violence and protection orders. In 2016, Ms Alofivae was appointed the Independent Chair of the South Auckland Social Investment Board and was a Director of Housing NZ Corporation from 2015 to 2018. Ms Alofivae is of Samoan and Chinese descent. She was sworn in as a District Court Judge in September 2023. 

Julia Steenson
Former Commissioner June 2020 – February 2023

Julia Steenson (Ngāti Whātua, Waikato/Tainui), is a qualified lawyer with experience in finance, education and legal practice. She founded Ture.co.nz, an online marketplace for legal services aiming to improve access to legal services for everyday people. She hosted the NZFreelaw podcast to provide free legal information to large audiences. Julia serves on the Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Trust Board, and on the board health and wellbeing charity Kia Puawai Limited. Previously, she was General Counsel for Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.

Sir Anand Satyanand
Former Chair February 2018 – November 2019

Sir Anand Satyanand was New Zealand’s 19th Governor-General from 2006 to 2011. He had a lengthy career as a lawyer, judge and ombudsman as well as contributing to many community, professional and sporting groups. His career in the law started in the Crown Solicitor’s Office in Auckland. As a lawyer Sir Anand practised in criminal law, revenue law and judicial review cases. As a District Court Judge he specialised in criminal jury trials.

Executive Directors

Benesia Smith, MNZM  
March 2024 - June 2024

Benesia (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga, Ngāti Porou) was the Executive Director when the Inquiry closed.  Benesia started at the Inquiry in April 2021 and led the operations directorate which included policy and research, legal and investigations, and programme management. She has more than 25 years’ experience in the public service, including leadership roles at the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority and Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. She was the Executive Director for the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Terrorist Attack on Christchurch Mosques on 15 March 2019, and head of the Earthquake Commission’s response to the Public Inquiry into the Earthquake Commission 2018-2020. 

Helen Potiki
Former Executive Director July 2021 – February 2024

Helen (Tapuika, Ngāti Porou, Ngāi Tahu) has a background in the public service and in international relations. She held leadership roles in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and the Ministry for Women. Helen led Government delegations to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in New York, the APEC Women in the Economy Forum in Vietnam and the East Asia Forum on Family and Gender Policy Development in Thailand. Helen left the Inquiry to spend time with whānau. 

Mervin Singham
Former Executive Director April 2018 – June 2021

Mervin is a qualified lawyer with many years of public service experience, including leadership roles in the Office of Ethnic Affairs and Department of Internal Affairs. He was Chief Mediator at the Human Rights Commission from 2000 to 2004. Mervin left the Inquiry to head the new Ministry of Ethnic Communities as its first chief executive.

Senior Counsel Assisting the Inquiry

Simon Mount KC

Simon Mount KC is a barrister specialising in civil and criminal litigation, regulatory law, health and media law, and public inquiries. Simon was Counsel Assisting the Royal Commission of Inquiry on the Pike River Coal Mine Tragedy in 2011-2012 and Counsel for New Zealand Police for the Inquest into the death of the Kahui twins in 2010-2012. He was counsel for the Earthquake Commission for the Public Inquiry into the Earthquake Commission 2018-2020. Simon has been Attorney-General for the Pitcairn Islands since 2015.

Kerryn Beaton KC

Kerryn Beaton KC is a Christchurch barrister specialising in criminal law, public inquiries, and coronial inquests. She has worked as both a criminal prosecutor and defence lawyer and has acted for many survivors of abuse and neglect in care. Kerryn was Counsel Assisting the Royal Commission of Inquiry on the Pike River Coal Mine Tragedy in 2011-2012, and was the Christchurch Public Defender from 2012-2014. Kerryn worked in Cambodia as a legal officer in the United Nations Khmer Rouge investigations into crimes against humanity in 2014-2016.