University of Auckland researcher Chris Wilson and co-author Michal Dziwulski argue that the Royal Commission into the March 15, 2019, Christchurch mosque attacks was significantly narrowed in scope, leaving the public with limited insight into potential prevention. Their upcoming book, He Told Us, claims that crucial warning signs were missed and that the inquiry’s focus on what agencies “knew” rather than what they “should have known” hindered a full investigation.
Why researchers believe the inquiry scope was limited
According to Wilson and Dziwulski, the terms of reference for the Royal Commission were “narrowed and completely changed” between the initial advice to Cabinet three days after the attack and the finalization of the terms on April 8, 2019. While former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern had reportedly promised that the inquiry would examine what authorities “could or should have known,” the final mandate was restricted to what agencies “knew” and their subsequent actions. Dziwulski noted that this distinction is critical, as a broader mandate would have allowed for a more comprehensive assessment of how the country’s worst peacetime mass killing might have been prevented.
Evidence of overlooked digital activity
The researchers contend that the Royal Commission failed to access vital digital evidence. Wilson and Dziwulski uncovered more than 400 4chan posts they attribute to the gunman—information they claim was available to the agencies of the day but never obtained by the commission. These posts contradict the terrorist’s claim to the commission that he did not use extreme right-wing websites. Furthermore, Dziwulski pointed to the messaging app Discord, which appeared on the gunman’s desktop in a photograph of his bedroom, as an example of potential evidence that the Royal Commission did not thoroughly investigate. The pair argues that the inquiry lacked sufficient expertise in digital media and extremism.
What could happen next regarding the inquiry’s legacy
As the second sitting of phase one of the Mosque Attack Inquest continues in Christchurch, the findings presented in He Told Us—set for publication on June 9—may prompt further public debate regarding the adequacy of the original Royal Commission. Because the underlying information from the commission remains under permanent suppression, analysts expect that independent research will remain the primary method for further scrutiny. Wilson suggests that undermining the terrorist’s “maverick outlaw” reputation is necessary, as the current approach of keeping information buried has failed to stop his glorification online, which has reportedly inspired more than 100 individuals to plan or carry out similar attacks.
