Advisory group to make recommendations on Our People, Our City fund

An advisory group has been set up to help determine how money donated to the Our People, Our City fund in the wake of the mosque shootings should be used.

Christchurch City Councillor Raf Manji.

The Our People, Our City Fund was set up by the Christchurch Foundation, at Mayor Lianne Dalziel’s request, after the 15 March shootings and has so far raised $5 million.

Another $1 million in donations has been pledged to the fund, which is aimed at ensuring there is medium to long-term support for the families of those affected by the mosque shootings and the wider Muslim community.

Today the Christchurch Foundation announced it was setting up an advisory group to make recommendations on how the money in the fund could be best used.

Christchurch City Councillor Raf Manji will chair the advisory group. Four or five members of the Muslim community and a trustee of the Christchurch Foundation will form the remainder of the group.

The advisory groups’ terms of reference are to:

• Make recommendations on how to distribute the funds so the identified needs of the victims and their wider communities are met.
• Ensure the longer term needs of the children of those who were killed or severely injured are met.
• Ensure that any distribution coves costs not already covered by the Crown.
• Ensure the Muslim communities’ views are acknowledged and factored into any recommendations.

The advisory group will hold its first meeting in early August.