Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says the country must continue to confront the forces which led to the 2019 Christchurch mosque attacks.
Luxon spoke at a Unity Hui in Christchurch this morning marking the sixth anniversary of the mosque attacks, which left 51 people dead and 89 injured.
On March 15, 2019, a white supremacist terrorist from Australia stormed into Al Noor Mosque and Linwood Islamic Centre.
In his speech, Luxon said there was no place for Islamophobia in New Zealand.
“As we reflect on this day we must also confront the forces that led to this tragedy,” Luxon said.
“Islamophobia – like all forms of hatred – has absolutely no place in New Zealand, and it is our duty to challenge it wherever it appears, whether it’s in words, policies, or in the silence that allows prejudice to fester.
“No one should ever feel unsafe because of their faith name or the way they pray.”
He said New Zealanders must continue to confront hatred in policy and within communities.
Luxon said the anniversary was also a reminder to continue to build a stronger and more connected community.
“New Zealand is a multicultural nation, and the diversity of our communities is one of our strengths,” he said.
“Our Muslim community brings so much to New Zealand – you make invaluable contributions to New Zealand’s social, cultural, and economic fabric.
“In the aftermath of the March 15 attacks, your community demonstrated remarkable resilience, turning tragedy into action by working closely with the government, with civil society and with other communities to make New Zealand a more inclusive nation.
“And as a government, we are committed to that endeavour too.”
Plea not to bring semi-automatic weapons back into NZ
The Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand chairman Abdur Razzaq asked the Prime Minister at the event not to bring semi-automatic weapons back into the country.
The comment was in response to the coalition Government currently rewriting the Arms Act.
The minister in charge, ACT’s Nicole McKee, had previously signalled her displeasure with the previous government’s reforms following the attack, and indicated access to the kinds of weapons used by the shooter could be liberalised.
Razzaq also asked the Government to consider restorative justice.
“For the sake of our community, an opportunity of restorative justice for our community, they haven’t had one – it was one of the recommendations.”
A Royal Commission into the attack made 44 recommendations, while a coronial inquiry into the deaths remains ongoing.
The coalition Government ended its response to the Royal Commission last August, scrapping eight recommendations in the process.
But Razzaq also said he meet with the Prime Minster last week, and said Luxon promised to do a “health check” on the recommendations.
“The Government’s commitment has not stopped, it is enduring. I know that,” he said.
Luxon rescheduled his flight to India for a trade mission to be in Christchurch at the hui.
By Jessie Curran of rnz.co.nz
