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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
World
Kate Lyons

Jacinda Ardern tells Christchurch service 'New Zealand mourns with you' – as it happened

We’re going to wrap up the blog for the day. Thank you for reading.

Our full story is here.

There are three major community-led vigils happening around New Zealand this weekend.

Auckland, 6pm Friday

The first of the three is at the Auckland Domain tonight, from 6 to 8pm. People are asked to gather in front of the grandstand at the southwestern end. Police said they are expecting thousands to attend and have closed a number of roads around the Domain.

Christchurch, 10am Saturday

The same school students who organised the School Strike for Climate march which was shut down by reports of an active shooter last Friday have organised a March for Love this Saturday. Thousands are expected to gather in North Hagley Park at 10am for speeches followed by the march.

Christchurch, 5pm Sunday

A vigil called “remember those who lost their lives” will be held from 5-7pm in Hagley Park on Sunday. Again, thousands are expected to attend and people are advised to take public transport.

People pray before a burial ceremony of a victim of the mosque attacks, at the Memorial Park Cemetery in Christchurch.
People pray before a burial ceremony of a victim of the mosque attacks, at the Memorial Park Cemetery in Christchurch. Photograph: Jorge Silva/Reuters

There are more than 1,000 mourners gathered at Christchurch’s memorial park cemetery for the burial of 26 victims of the mosque attacks this afternoon, among them the youngest victim of the attack, three-year-old Mucaad Ibrahim.

Dozens of media agencies, most of which are international, have been allowed to film from the edge of the cemetery.

It is crowded, and the MC is trying to organise a large crowd to endure bodies can be carried safely and close family has an opportunity to say goodbye. There are volunteers in high visibility vests to help keep order. Armed police are guarding entrances to the cemetery, and mourners keep walking in and out. Every few minutes, the sound of prayer indicates a body being carried for burial.

The mass burial of being held to ensure that all can be buried in accordance with Islamic tradition, which dictates that a person be buried as soon as possible after death.

The majority of the bodies were only released back to their families from the coroner yesterday. The seven days it has taken for burial is already far too long; no one is prepared to wait longer.

Today’s funerals are the last in Christchurch relating to the attack. Other victims are being buried in other cities or in their home countries.

Updated

Our team have built this beautiful interactive that shows the names and brief stories of those who have been confirmed dead in last week’s attacks.

Summary

  • Thousands of people have gathered in Hagley Park near Al Noor mosque in Christchurch to attend Friday prayers, a week after the twin mosque attacks that saw 50 people killed.

  • Jacinda Ardern addressed the crowd, saying “New Zealand mourns with you, we are one”.

  • The call to prayer was broadcast around the country and a two-minute silence was observed.

  • Gamal Fouda, imam at Al Noor mosque, said the attacks had left the country “broken-hearted but not broken”. He thanked the people of New Zealand for “your tears, your haka, your flowers and your love and compassion” and thanked Ardern “for holding our families close and honouring us with a simple scarf”.

  • Women around New Zealand have donned head scarves today in solidarity with Muslim women.

  • A mass burial will take place this afternoon for some of the remaining victims of the attack last week. Yesterday police commissioner Mike Bush confirmed that all 50 victims had been identified and could now be released to their families.

Women around New Zealand have donned head scarves today in solidarity with Muslim women.

Under the hashtags #headscarfforharmony and #ScarvesInSolidarity, women have been sharing photographs of themselves wearing the scarves.

The event is supported by the Islamic Women’s Council of New Zealand and the NZ Muslim Association.

How the haka helped Christchurch mourn

Moving video of school students in Christchurch performing the haka at a memorial for 50 people killed in Friday’s massacre has its roots in another recent tragedy.

The Tahu Pōtiki haka is specific to Te Waipounamu, New Zealand’s South Island. It has an ancient history but became widely used in Christchurchfollowing the 2011 earthquakes as a way to help the community, and particularly school students, cope with a disaster that killed 185 people.

Now it is being used to show respect for those affected by another traumatic event.

The first line, “Otautahi, Maraka Maraka,” is a rallying call for Christchurch to rise up and remain resolute.

Full story here.

An Australian national security official says security agencies are increasing their “scrutiny and pressure” on white supremacists after the New Zealand mosque attack.

Home Affairs Department chief executive Mike Pezzullo told a Senate committee on Friday that Australian agencies were working to assist the New Zealand investigation into the Australian man arrested in the killings of 50 worshippers in two Christchurch mosques last week.

Pezzullo said the Home Affairs Department stood resolutely against white supremacy and he addressed its adherents, saying: “The scrutiny and pressure that you are under will only intensify.”

The front pages of some of New Zealand’s papers today

Here is the front page of The Press, in Christchurch.

Friday prayers at Hagley Park in Christchurch – in pictures

New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and her entourage arrive before Friday prayers.
New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and her entourage arrive before Friday prayers. Photograph: Jorge Silva/Reuters
People react during Friday prayers at Hagley Park.
People react during Friday prayers at Hagley Park. Photograph: Edgar Su/Reuters
Imam Gamal Fouda leads a Friday prayer at Hagley Park outside Al Noor mosque in Christchurch.
Imam Gamal Fouda leads a Friday prayer at Hagley Park outside Al Noor mosque in Christchurch. Photograph: Edgar Su/Reuters
People perform the Friday prayers at Hagley Park.
People perform the Friday prayers at Hagley Park. Photograph: Jorge Silva/Reuters
New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern attends the Friday prayers at Hagley Park outside Al Noor mosque.
New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern attends the Friday prayers at Hagley Park outside Al Noor mosque. Photograph: Jorge Silva/Reuters
People attend Friday prayers at Hagley Park.
People attend Friday prayers at Hagley Park. Photograph: Jorge Silva/Reuters
Zaid Mustafa (C, in wheelchair), who was wounded in the twin mosque massacre, and whose father and brother were killed arrives for congregational Friday prayers.
Zaid Mustafa (C, in wheelchair), who was wounded in the twin mosque massacre, and whose father and brother were killed arrives for congregational Friday prayers. Photograph: Marty Melville/AFP/Getty Images
A woman takes photo with her mobile phone of people attend the Friday prayers at Hagley Park outside the mosque.
A woman takes photo with her mobile phone of people attend the Friday prayers at Hagley Park outside the mosque. Photograph: Edgar Su/Reuters

Updated

Although police have said that the mosque shooting were conducted by a lone shooter, the terror threat in New Zealand is still high.

There are armed police carrying military-style assault rifles every hundred metres surrounding the event at Hagley Park, and guarding the Al Noor mosque. Council staff in high-visibility jackets are providing extra security. Police helicopters are flying overhead.

Despite that the mood is solemn, not tense. Police are not stopping anyone, they are here to provide a highly visible reassurance.

New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and her entourage arrive before Friday prayers at Hagley Park.
New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and her entourage arrive before Friday prayers at Hagley Park. Photograph: Jorge Silva/Reuters

The imam has finished his address and prayers are continuing now.

Imam says attack 'did not come overnight' but was the result of 'anti-Muslim rhetoric'

“The martyrdom of 50 people and the injury of 42 did not come overnight, it was the result of the anti-Muslim rhetoric of some political leaders, media agencies and others,” says Imam Gamal Fouda of the Al Noor mosque.

“Last week’s event is proof and evidence to the entire world that terrorism has no colour, has no race, and has no religion.

“The rise of white supremacy and right wing extremism is a great global threat to mankind and this must end now.

“I want to take this opportunity to thank my Muslim and non-Muslim brothers and sisters for attending today.”

“Islamaphobia kills,” the imam is saying. He cites attacks in the US, UK and Canada.

“We call upon governments around the world, including New Zealand and neighbouring countries to bring an end to hate speech and the politics of fear.”

Updated

The imam is addressing his fellow Muslims now.

“To my brothers and sisters, those who are here today, to perform the weekly Friday prayer, thank you for coming together once again. It is easy to feel lost after the trauma you and I experienced. But the promise of Allah made to us is true.”

Updated

He continues his speech, thanking the government “who have shown us that we matter and we are not forgotten”.

He also thanks the police, “you put our lives before your own every day”.

“Thank you to the neighbours who opened their doors to save us from the killer,” he says. “Thank you to those who pulled over their cars to help us. Thank you to those who brought us food and helped us when we found it difficult to stand.”

Imam thanks Jacinda Ardern for 'honouring us with a simple scarf'

Imam Gamal Fouda is thanking the people of New Zealand.

“Thank you for your tears. Thank you for your haka. Thank you for your flowers. Thank you for your love and compassion.”

He thanks Jacinda Ardern. This gets the biggest round of applause so far.

“Thank you for your leadership, it has been a lesson for the world’s leaders, thank you for holding our families close and honouring us with a simple scarf. Thank you for your words and tears of compassion. Thank you for being one with us.”

Imam Gamal Fouda of Al Noor mosque continues: “Do not say of those who have been killed in the way of Allah that they are dead. They are alive, rejoicing with their Lord. They were the best of us, taken from us on the best of days, in the best of places, performing the best of actions.

“They are not just martyrs of Islam, but they are martyrs of this land New Zealand.

“Our loss of you is a gain to NewZealand’s unity and strength. Your departure is an awakening not just for our nation but for all humanity. Your martyrdom is a new life for New Zealand and a chance of prosperity for many. Our assembly here, with all the shades of our diversity, is a testament of our joint humanity.We are leer in – we are here in our hundreds and thousands unified for one purpose - that hate will be undone and love will redeem us.”

He tells the families of those who died that they did not die in vain.

“Their blood will water the seeds of hope and people will see the beauty of Islam.”

'We are broken-hearted but we are not broken', says Muslim leader

“This terrorist sought to tear our nation apart with an evil ideology... but instead we have shown that New Zealand is unbreakable and that the world can see in us as an example of love and unity,” says the Muslim leader.

“We are broken-hearted but we are not broken. We are determined to not let anyone divide us.”

A Muslim leader is speaking now.

“Brothers and sisters in Islam, brothers and sisters in humanity, brothers and sisters in New Zealand. Last Friday I stood in this mosque and saw hatred and rage in the eyes of the terrorist, who killed and martyred 50 people, wounded 42 and broke the hearts of millions around the world.

“Today, from the same place, I look out and see the love and compassion in the eyes of thousands of fellow New Zealanders and fellow human beings from across the globe.”

The nationwide two-minute silence has now begun.

Call to prayer has begun

The call to prayer has started. This is being broadcast across the country on the radio and television.

Jacinda Ardern is speaking now. She greets the crowd in Arabic.

She says: “According the the prophet Mohammed... The believers int heir mutual kindness, compassion and sympathy are just like one body. When any part of the body suffers, the whole body feels pain. New Zealand mourns with you, we are one”.

Updated

Jacinda Ardern arrives at Hagley Park for prayer service

The prime minister has arrived. She is wearing the same black headscarf she wore when she first visited Christchurch in the wake of the attack, and is moving through the crowd.

Judith Collins, a New Zealand MP and former police minister, has told the National Rifle Association to “bugger off” out of the country’s business, as New Zealand prepares to introduce changes to gun laws.

Collins, who is a National Party MP, told the Sydney Morning Herald that when she sought to introduce gun law reforms, she was inundated by lobbying from New Zealand’s gun industry, who sent her material she believed was sourced from the NRA.

While the gun reforms announced yesterday have attracted some praise in the US, with senator Bernie Sanders and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tweeting their support, the NRA have said such laws would not work in the US.

“The US isn’t New Zealand,” Dana Loesch, a prominent gun rights activist and National Rifle Association spokeswoman, tweeted. “They do not have an inalienable right to bear arms and to self-defense, we do.”

In another tweet, she wrote: “To ‘follow these examples’ the US would need to repeal the Second Amendment, ban all semi-auto, force gun stores to show all purchases to gov’t, and spend $200 million taxpayer dollars to confiscate firearms.”

Clarke Gayford, Jacinda Ardern’s partner, tweeted overnight that the couple’s daughter Neve had her “9 month birthday”. He said that “her mum got her the gift of having a safer country to grow up in”, a reference to the gun control laws Ardern announced yesterday.

Jacinda Ardern will return to Christchurch to participate in the prayer service today, after yesterday announcing sweeping changes to New Zealand’s gun laws.

Yesterday from Wellington, Ardern announced a ban on assault rifles and military-style semi-automatics.

“I absolutely believe there will be a common view amongst New Zealanders, those who use guns for legitimate purposes, and those who have never touched one, that the time for the mass and easy availability of these weapons must end. And today they will,” said Ardern.

Parts that are used to convert guns into military-style semi-automatics (MSSAs) have also being banned, along with high-capacity magazines and parts that cause a firearm to generate semi-automatic, automatic or close-to-automatic gunfire.

“In short, every semi-automatic weapon used in the terrorist attack on Friday will be banned in this country,” said Ardern.

The ban on the sale of the weapons came into effect at 3pm on Thursday – the time of the press conference announcing the ban – with the prime minister warning that “all sales should now cease” of the weapons.

Ardern also directed officials to develop a gun-buyback scheme for those who already own such weapons. She said “fair and reasonable compensation” would be paid.

Full story here.

Women wearing headscarves as tribute to the victims of the mosque attacks are seen before Friday prayers at Hagley Park outside Al-Noor mosque in Christchurch.
Women wearing headscarves as tribute to the victims of the mosque attacks are seen before Friday prayers at Hagley Park outside Al-Noor mosque in Christchurch. Photograph: Edgar Su/Reuters

Many of those attending the service in Hagley Park have never visited a mosque before.

Most non-Muslim women, from council workers to media to police officers, are wearing hijabs. Some have donned them just for the service while others are wearing their scarves all day in a mark of solidarity.

“It is a mark of respect to show that we care,” says Sue.

Christchurch is such a small city that even those outside the Muslim community, like Nicole, know some of those directly affected.

“We are here to show respect and also to grieve,” she says.

Judith Millar says she does not know anyone in Christchurch’s Muslim community but “as a member of the Christchurch community I feel deep empathy over what has occurred and to the people who have been affected.”

Women wearing scarfs are seen at Hagley Park outside Al Noor mosque in Christchurch.
Women wearing scarfs are seen at Hagley Park outside Al Noor mosque in Christchurch. Photograph: Jorge Silva/Reuters
Volunteers in head scarfs make arrangements of drinking water for the worshipper of a Friday mass prayer in Hagley Park.
Volunteers in head scarfs make arrangements of drinking water for the worshipper of a Friday mass prayer in Hagley Park. Photograph: Marty Melville/AFP/Getty Images

Updated

Luul Ibrahim is among hundreds of people who have begun to gather at Hagley Park in Christchurch where a public service will be held to commemorate those killed in last Friday’s mosque shooting.

Her brother, Mucad Ibrahim, 3, was the youngest person killed in the massacre. She moved to Perth from Christchurch in 2003, and says he died before she had a chance to meet him.

“I wish I could have met him, but maybe one day I can meet him in heaven.”

Ibrahim said she attended Masjid Al Noor, where 42 of the victims were killed, every week and knew most of those affected. She said Haji Mohammed Daoud Nabi, who opened the door of the mosque to the shooter and was praised by Jacinda Ardern in parliament, was like “an uncle” to her and other children.

“I consider him an uncle. He used to be the bus driver so he would pick us all up, drive us around, make jokes.”

She said the public service on Friday “brings all religions together.”

“It brings love, peace and harmony as well, it unites us.”

Updated

The vigil held at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin, New Zealand.
The vigil held at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin, New Zealand. Photograph: Dianne Manson/Getty Images

Last night, more than 18,000 people attended a candlelit vigil for victims of the Christchurch terrorist attack in the New Zealand city of Dunedin, where the gunman lived for two years.

Many of those in attendance at the Forsyth Barr Stadium, which is usually used for games of rugby and rock concerts, were students, who have been a constant presence outside the city’s sole mosque since last Friday, laying flowers and leaving notes of condolence.

The students gathered before the vigil at the university campus before walking silently through the city’s streets to the stadium, joined by members of Dunedin’s Muslim community.

Full story here.

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the events in Christchurch.

It is now a week since the shootings at the two mosque which killed 50 people.

Today, Jacinda Ardern returns to Christchurch to observe the call to prayer at 1:30pm (in about an hour) in Hagley Park, near Al Noor mosque.

Thousands are expected to attend the service, and the call to prayer will be broadcast around the country on New Zealand television and radio. There will also be two minutes of silence held across the country, in a day of nationwide mourning.

The observance comes the day after the government announced a ban on “military-style” semi-automatic firearms and high-capacity magazines like the weapons that were used in last Friday’s attacks.

At least 42 people died at the Al Noor mosque and at least seven others at the nearby Linwood mosque after a white supremacist gunned them down.

We will bring you news of this day without precedent in New Zealand, as it unfolds. My colleague Calla Wahlquist is on the ground in Christchurch, follow Calla and me on Twitter for updates or to get in touch to tell us how you are marking the day.

Updated

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