A dreadful event in Christchurch

The overwhelming feelings here are profound sorrow and shame.

We have very little hate crime in New Zealand, we are not that kind of people or country.

Yes, there is racism from individuals and you can hear bigotry on talk-back radio, but in general, New Zealand IS a peaceful place and Maori are not regarded by most Kiwis as second class citizens.

I admit that is certainly how they were viewed by government but so much has changed over the past 20 years.

As many Gnetters know I have been part of Maori society for over 30 years and applaud the progress this country has made to try and equalise things. I don't think truly equality is ever possible anywhere but at least we are working hard towards it.

I have close family friends in Christchurch and as the news came through, one of the girls was at my home and almost collapsed when she thought her sisters might be at the mosque. As it is, they are safe but of course the family know many of the dead and injured.

The outpouring of support for the Muslim community, the utter rejection of violence and the feelings of shame across Aotearoa, tell you how we really feel.

Anniebach whilst I deplore what has happened, I have visited NZ 4 times and have always thought that it was the least racist country I have ever been to.

Aw, I hope that woman who was interviewed is alright, she'll be in shock. It's the 66 year old who was helping the injured, a brave woman.

My extended family/relations live in Auckland and mum's half-brother is buried at the North Shore Memorial Park.

Thanks so much for all your kind thoughts. We never dreamed terrorism would come to New Zealand. Surely Christchurch has had enough sorrow after the huge earthquakes and now this. I lived in Christchurch for 10 years before the earthquakes and it was just so beautiful. Not now though and especially after this latest disaster to fall on them. So glad I am in Auckland. Libbyw

I am staying near Christchurch at the moment visiting my son and family.
My dil and I were at a sewing shop on the outskirts at the time but unaware of the disaster till my dil phone went while we were having afternoon tea before picking my eldest dgd up from her little independent school. Luckily her school wasn’t on lock down and we brought her home avoiding the university with armed guards near where we are staying. My son was in Dunedin and had his flight home cancelled but he got on a very early flight this morning. He works in the city centre and at the uni. Very somber feel with people wearing red hearts today. A tragic incident to finish our 10 week stay on as we fly home Tuesday.

Such dreadful news. My best school friend from Yorkshire lives in Christchurch . At least,I hope she is still there as have lost contact. I’ m sure she will be so shocked that something like this could take place there.

You've explained it in one Elegran.

Thank you Elegran

Wise words. This thread isn't about political point scoring.

We are united in condemning the actions of a few extremists, whatever their origins and aims or the labels they attract

EllanVannin Apart from the Diplomatic Protection Squad and police officers at airports, New Zealand police are not routinely armed. This was an unprecedented attack when the threat level here was at low. (It has now been raised to high for the first time.) The police cannot go rushing willy nilly into something as horrendous as this without preparation and the issue of firearms. To do so would cause more chaos and put their lives at an unreasonable level of risk. There is no way that they could usefully have responded within two minutes. No doubt, procedures will be revised in the light of this deplorable event, but they need to be considered calmly and rationally.

i dont have tv so i havent seen this .thats blooming awful. those poor families .my heart is broken .why do people think its ok to kill another person in the name of their god.

Humpty Dumpty ^Elegran Humpty Dumpty

A survivor slammed the authorities for their slow responses as he escaped through the Mosque back door while the killer was shooting everyone. It was 20 minutes before police came to the Al Noor Mosque.

What is it with police and their slow responses ?
Khaled Al-Nobani had said it should have taken 2 minutes to respond not 20 minutes.
Considering it was a call involving guns 20 minutes is unacceptable when time is of the essence.

"Mad" here is not in the "mental illness" meaning of the word, but in the "dangerously and lethally illogical" sense.

The universal condemnation should not be seen by the perpetrator as because they belong to any particular group, but because they did the act. It should not be presented as such either, but as an act of violence whoever was responsible and whatever their motivation was.

The investigation into all the ramifications of motivation, group allegiance, undue influence and so on will happen in due course. Justice is not a matter for instant assumption and execution, and to make it so is to turn back centuries of civilisation.

An Australian – either an immigrant or the descendant of immigrants (voluntarily or otherwise) – stated that he believes that the USA is being destroyed by liberals who want to remove the rights granted by the Second Amendment to the Constitution i.e. take away people's guns. In order to show support, prevent this happening, etc. he planned a terrorist attack. He came to New Zealand to train, not to commit a terrorist attack but found the country "rich" [sic] in suitable targets, strangely referring to New Zealand as part of the western world. He expressed admiration for Donald Trump and his racist views and self-identifies as a white supremacist. His use of the word immigrant, like that of his presidential mentor, clearly refers to people who are not "white". His logic is certainly twisted but not, in my opinion, actually mad.

Pretty much all of New Zealand is in shock and deeply distressed by these appalling events. The threat level has been raised from low to high and we are confused about how to proceed to prevent another massacre.

A black day for civilised society in New Zealand and all over the world. Great sympathy for and anger on behalf of those affected. Killing people because they don't share your views or because you don't like theirs seems an extraordinarily counterproductive way to build a worthwhile society.

Nobody said that it didn't matter that it was a terrorist act ??

Bluebelle I understand why you started the thread but honestly even if we’d come together in condemning what happened, what would they mean unless there was some examination of the root causes?

A lot of unwillingness on here to accept that right wing extremism is the driver of this atrocity. It does matter that this IS a terroist act and it does matter that it comes from the extreme right - not a madman. We should care about being accurate about this otherwise where do things go from here? If we just wring our hands and say how awful it all is then where does that take us? It’s just platitudinous rubbish. What we need to be doing in all western countries is taking the far right much more seriously then we do and for example spending more resources in the Prevent programme on the far right and its radicalisation.

Anniebach What evidence do you have that "racism is strong in New Zealand"? Sadly, it exists in virtually every country in the world but my experience of New Zealand, stretching over 17 years, including the last six years when I have been living here, directly contradicts your statement. New Zealand is not the younger sibling of Australia and does not share similar political or cultural views. The two countries are very different.

Can we please stop bickering and concentrate on the poor Muslims in the mosques that is what I started the thread for so we could all come together in condemnation of these terrorists and the misery and fear they have caused
I see the main perpetrator has said he is expecting a Nobel Peace Prize !! There has been little said about the others who were with him including a woman Were they all Australian or were they ‘Home grown’ I believe my son said at least one was a New Zealander but I ve not read anything formal about that
I hope the poor folk in hospital all recover

Another very sad day on our planet.. people, mercilessly killed just going about their business..my heart goes out to all their families
..I found the nitpicking & arguing on this thread to be absolutely disgusting....I'm truly shocked...

I agree Mapleleaf 49 people have died where is the sympathy? Outrage should be directed at the perpetrators not at each other.
I have just read some of the rambling message from one of the shooters and he seems quite out of touch with reality at times. I feel so sad for all those affected and for the people of NZ.

And that is aimed at any and all who try to take this atrocity to further their own narrow vision.