5. Reading the report

5.1 Structure

1

The report covers a wide range of topics, some of which are only loosely connected. As well, some of the issues are very specific whereas others recur throughout the report.

2

The first two Parts (Part 2: Context and Part 3: What communities told us) deal with issues that are relevant to everything that follows in the report. The next three Parts (Part 4: The terrorist, Part 5: The firearms licence and Part 6: What Public sector agencies knew about the terrorist) deal in forensic detail with specific aspects of our inquiry.  Part 7: Detecting a potential terrorist provides a bridge to the more evaluative Part 8: Assessing the counter-terrorism effort. Part 9: Social cohesion and embracing diversity is a similarly evaluative exercise – this time in respect of Public sector involvement in social cohesion and encompassing the New Zealand’s approaches to hate crime and hate speech.

3

The findings we make are incorporated in the Parts in which the relevant issues are addressed. We make our recommendations, separately, in Part 10: Recommendations.

 Read Part 10: Recommendations

5.2 Anonymisation

4

Our Terms of Reference required us to make findings and recommendations about Public sector agencies.  We are, therefore, concerned with actions taken at an agency or system level. We do not consider it necessary to name any current or former Public sector employees other than chief executives or deputy chief executives. 

5

Other than experts who assisted the inquiry, we do not think it is appropriate to name private individuals whose names are not already in the public domain, which is the case with the individual’s mother and sister, Sharon and Lauren Tarrant, and Peter Breidahl. Naming other private individuals in our report may lead to undue public attention and possible harm. 

6

Consistent with this policy, we have used the pronouns “they” and “them” in place of “he”, “she”, “him” and “her” and the adjective “their” instead of “his” or “her”.  This has been to avoid providing unnecessary identifying detail in relation to the people whom we spoke to or whose actions we discuss.

5.3 Distressing content

7

A note of warning, this report contains material that is at times confronting, particularly to those affected by the 15 March 2019 terrorist attack. We provide visual warning (see below) prior to the most challenging sections. Some people may wish to avoid these parts.