The head of the Royal Commission into historic abuse in care has left the inquiry to take up the role of chief executive at the new Ministry for Ethnic Communities.
Office of Ethnic Communities chief executive Mervin Singham. Photo: Fair use / Youtube / Screenshot
The new ministry, which was recommended by the inquiry into the Christchurch mosque terror attacks, was launched this morning.
It will continue to deliver the functions of the Office of Ethnic Communities, but also wants to build additional functions and influence across the public sector.
Mervin Singham has been appointed as the ministry's new chief executive.
He was the executive director of the Royal Commission into Historic Abuse in Care since it was established in 2018. He had previously held roles within the Human Rights Commission and Office of Ethnic Affairs.
During his tenure, the Royal Commission faced criticism for its budget blow-out, the appointment of a gang member into a key role and a child sex offender being allowed to attend a meeting with survivors.
Singham said an assessment of his previous work was conducted during the recruitment process, adding that he had worked with ethnic communities for a long time.
Every agency, but especially the Royal Commission, faced "huge challenges", Singham said, and his first priority would be connecting with ethnic communities.
"I'm new to some of them and I'll need to connect with, find out what their priorities are. They've told us something but we need to listen some more. That's the first thing I'll be doing, listening, synthesising and advising the minister and other agencies."
Minister for Ethnic Communities Priyanca Radhakrishnan said the inquiry and the new ministry were completely different and Singham was the right person for the job.
"He has the skills, he's got the knowledge of the public sector at a senior leadership level and he has mana within ethnic communities to do this role justice."
For the first time, Radhakrishnan said, ethnic communities would have a seat at the top table.
The ministry was set up to ensure New Zealand's ethnic communities were truly valued, Radhakrishnan said.
An interim executive director of the Royal Commission will be announced soon.