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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2019/mar/20/new-zealand-shooting-jacinda-ardern-visits-christchurch-to-pay-tribute-to-victims-live
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| New Zealand shooting: first burials today as Ardern visits Christchurch victims – live | New Zealand shooting: first burials today as Ardern visits Christchurch victims – live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| A journalist asks: “Prime Minister, a few hours ago a father and son from Syria, refugees to this country, were buried, the first people to be buried in Christchurch. How does it make your feel that people who came here, to seek refuge, they’ve ended up dying this this most horrific way?” | |
| Ardern replies: | |
| It was actually one of the things that I was told quite early on. When I was being briefed on some of the, you know, the atrocious stories, one of the things that was shared with me was that a family affected were Syrian refugees. I cannot tell you how gutting it is to know that a family came here for safety and for refuge, and they should have been safe here. | |
| You will see that, you know, amongst New Zealanders on social media, one of the - one of the images and accompanying words that has spread the most has been that this was their home and they should have been safe here. | |
| Ardern says the fact that the alleged killer came from Australia does not taint the trans-Tasman relationship or reflect more widely on Australia or the country, and says she knows people in Australia are wrestling with questions about what it means for their country that the alleged killer came from Australia. | |
| Ardern is asked what she thinks about the frustration felt by the families of victims at the speed that the bodies are being returned to their families for burial. | |
| “It’s a frustration that I share,” says Ardern. “I have had an update that we have had 13 bodies now ready for release to family members.” | |
| But she adds: “I have seen the people working on this process and they are working incredibly hard.” | |
| Ardern says there are “lessons to learn” and that in the aftermath they will be reviewing how to return bodies more quickly. | |
| Ardern says ever since she heard that the attack involved people of Muslim faith, she says “My concern about the 24-hour burial period has been top of my mind.” | |
| Ardern has been asked if Donald Trump should have said more and reflected New Zealand’s position. She deflects the question and said her focus was on the local community and she cannot control the rhetoric of other leaders. | |
| Ardern deflects a question about how concerned New Zealanders should be about threats from Islamic State and calls for retaliatory attacks against New Zealand. | |
| Ardern says she has not heard language of retaliation from the local Musliam community, saying their response has been “completely counter” to some of the rhetoric used by Islamic State, the Taliban and others. | |
| Ardern says there is a desire to mark the attack and honour the victims and to support Muslim brothers and sisters in New Zealand. In light of that there will be two minutes of silence held on Friday and the call to prayer will be broadcast on TVNZ and Radio NZ. | |
| Jacinda Ardern discussed today with council and community leaders the future memorial service for the victims of the attack. She says planning continues for the memorial, which will be held in Christchurch, but no date has been set for the event. | |
| Ardern is speaking to the media after her morning of meetings with people in Christchurch. | |
| Staff at the Christchurch hospital have explained what happened on the afternoon of the mosque attacks. | |
| Senior staff were in a meeting and called out when the emergency department activated its major incident protocols - which means five or more patients are coming in from one incident. | |
| Nursing clinical manager Tracey Williams said they had 48 admissions within an hour. Within two and a half, she says “most patients were where they needed to be.” | |
| The police cordon made it slightly difficult for some on the afternoon shift to get through, but Williams said the hospital was able to cope because the shooting was on a weekday and at a crossover between morning and afternoon shift - a lot of staff around. | |
| Others who weren’t rostered on just turned up, as they did after the 2011 Earthquake. “People who weren’t at work just appeared.” | |
| Williams: “The lockdown was unusual, the police locked us down and the department and we were very keen to let our staff go home... but it’s been very reassuring to have the police presence ongoing.” | |
| Williams said there were more patients in the earthquake - 400 over 24 hours - but more all at once on Friday - 48 in under an hour. | |
| By mid afternoon they had 13 patients in ICU. They also almost ran out of supplies - a woman named Renee from Allied Health drove through the police cordon to restock antibiotics and other supplies. Social workers also came in to support relatives so nursing staff were free. | |
| The head of ICU nursing said: “Some of the patients have required two nurses to one patient because of the complexity of the care…. The staff have stepped up, they have done immensely well, I could not be more proud.” | |
| There are currently 20 shooting victims in the surgical ward, “many of whom are requiring multiple returns to theatre,” said the director of surgical nursing. | |
| Samir Harith, a Muslim New Zealander who works at the University of Waikato has written a guide for non-Muslim Kiwis to support their Muslim friends and neighbours. | Samir Harith, a Muslim New Zealander who works at the University of Waikato has written a guide for non-Muslim Kiwis to support their Muslim friends and neighbours. |
| He writes: | He writes: |
| So many of my non-Muslim friends have asked me what they can do to help the Muslim community here in NZ in light of Friday’s Tragedy. Lots of good meaning souls out there and its the biggest reason why I love NZ so much. So for those of you who want to do something, here are some pointers: | So many of my non-Muslim friends have asked me what they can do to help the Muslim community here in NZ in light of Friday’s Tragedy. Lots of good meaning souls out there and its the biggest reason why I love NZ so much. So for those of you who want to do something, here are some pointers: |
| BE CAUTIOUS ABOUT: | BE CAUTIOUS ABOUT: |
| 1. Physical contact - Yes, it’s normal for us Kiwis to hug and embrace with each other on any occasion, but for most Muslims, physical contact with members of the opposite gender is taboo. Hugs, handshakes and embraces with members of the same gender is fine, but if you wish to express your condolences to a Muslim individual of an opposite gender, a simple hand over heart gesture is fine. | 1. Physical contact - Yes, it’s normal for us Kiwis to hug and embrace with each other on any occasion, but for most Muslims, physical contact with members of the opposite gender is taboo. Hugs, handshakes and embraces with members of the same gender is fine, but if you wish to express your condolences to a Muslim individual of an opposite gender, a simple hand over heart gesture is fine. |
| 2. Donating food to mosques - A great idea! However, unless you are familiar with what constitutes ‘Halal’ (permissible) food, I would advise not to donate food to mosques. While they will definitely appreciate your contribution, if they suspect that the food is non-halal it will likely go to waste. If you wish to learn more about what Halal food is, please talk to your local mosque leaders. | 2. Donating food to mosques - A great idea! However, unless you are familiar with what constitutes ‘Halal’ (permissible) food, I would advise not to donate food to mosques. While they will definitely appreciate your contribution, if they suspect that the food is non-halal it will likely go to waste. If you wish to learn more about what Halal food is, please talk to your local mosque leaders. |
| 3. Attending funerals/grieving with Muslims - Muslims are famous for being completely efficient with burying and grieving our dead. Generally speaking, fallen Muslims are usually buried and grieved within the day (hence the frustration when our loved ones aren’t able to be buried on time). So no, you probably won’t have a chance to grieve with us simply because our grieving is a very private, efficient affair. | 3. Attending funerals/grieving with Muslims - Muslims are famous for being completely efficient with burying and grieving our dead. Generally speaking, fallen Muslims are usually buried and grieved within the day (hence the frustration when our loved ones aren’t able to be buried on time). So no, you probably won’t have a chance to grieve with us simply because our grieving is a very private, efficient affair. |
| Now that you know that, what you CAN do is really easy: | Now that you know that, what you CAN do is really easy: |
| 1. Spread the word and share your solidarity with not just Muslims but all Kiwis, because all of us, as a country are affected by this tragedy. Spread the love and Aroha people! | 1. Spread the word and share your solidarity with not just Muslims but all Kiwis, because all of us, as a country are affected by this tragedy. Spread the love and Aroha people! |
| 2. Call out hate speech wherever you hear/see it. I can’t stress this enough. No matter how small, no matter how innocuous it sounds, call it out and tell people to cut out that shit. | 2. Call out hate speech wherever you hear/see it. I can’t stress this enough. No matter how small, no matter how innocuous it sounds, call it out and tell people to cut out that shit. |
| 3. Attend vigils organised by your local mosque and/or other religious organisations. This tragedy has brought out the best in us as it stretches across a different multitude of faiths. If you want to show your support - there is a great place to do it. | 3. Attend vigils organised by your local mosque and/or other religious organisations. This tragedy has brought out the best in us as it stretches across a different multitude of faiths. If you want to show your support - there is a great place to do it. |
| He also encourages people not to share images/videos of the man who committed teh attacks or perpetrate racial hate and division. He also cautioned fellow Muslims reading this post, not to make any statements disparaging Westerners because of the violent acts of one person, writing “you don’t like them doing that to us, don’t do it to them.” | He also encourages people not to share images/videos of the man who committed teh attacks or perpetrate racial hate and division. He also cautioned fellow Muslims reading this post, not to make any statements disparaging Westerners because of the violent acts of one person, writing “you don’t like them doing that to us, don’t do it to them.” |
| Christchurch pupils perform haka for Jacinda Ardern – video | Christchurch pupils perform haka for Jacinda Ardern – video |
| Funerals for the first of the 50 victims whose bodies have been returned to their families have begun at Christchurch’s Memorial Park Cemetery. | Funerals for the first of the 50 victims whose bodies have been returned to their families have begun at Christchurch’s Memorial Park Cemetery. |
| Among the first to be buried were father and son Khaled and Hamza Mustafa, who were killed at Al Noor mosque. Both came to New Zealand as Syrian refugees. | Among the first to be buried were father and son Khaled and Hamza Mustafa, who were killed at Al Noor mosque. Both came to New Zealand as Syrian refugees. |
| Hamza, 16, was a year 10 student at Cashmere High School. Principal Mark Wilson earlier described him as excellent horse rider who wanted to be a veterinarian. | Hamza, 16, was a year 10 student at Cashmere High School. Principal Mark Wilson earlier described him as excellent horse rider who wanted to be a veterinarian. |
| As of midday on Wednesday 27 bodies had been formally identified and 12 had been released for burial. Some will then make the long journey home to be buried with family overseas. | As of midday on Wednesday 27 bodies had been formally identified and 12 had been released for burial. Some will then make the long journey home to be buried with family overseas. |
| Ardern and the first responders have now left for a private gathering where they will share some “lamingtons, fruit, biscuits and juice” and talk in private, which feels very, appropriately Kiwi. | Ardern and the first responders have now left for a private gathering where they will share some “lamingtons, fruit, biscuits and juice” and talk in private, which feels very, appropriately Kiwi. |
| The prime minister’s press conference has been pushed back to 3pm (about 40 minutes from now). | The prime minister’s press conference has been pushed back to 3pm (about 40 minutes from now). |
| Ardern has said she hoped to meet first responders in a small room and share some lamingtons. The prime minister looks extremely moved, and said she watched their work in real-time. "I have no doubt that you saved lives - thank you for doing what you do on our darkest days" | Ardern has said she hoped to meet first responders in a small room and share some lamingtons. The prime minister looks extremely moved, and said she watched their work in real-time. "I have no doubt that you saved lives - thank you for doing what you do on our darkest days" |
| Jacinda Ardern has arrived at the emergency precinct in Christchurch and is shaking the hands of St John’s first responder staff. | Jacinda Ardern has arrived at the emergency precinct in Christchurch and is shaking the hands of St John’s first responder staff. |
| Australian prime minister Scott Morrison has just held a press conference to deal with one particularly unedifying bit of fallout from the Christchurch terror attacks – comments by the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, that anyone who comes to Turkey with anti-Muslim sentiments would be sent back in coffins, “like their grandfathers were” during the Gallipoli campaign. | Australian prime minister Scott Morrison has just held a press conference to deal with one particularly unedifying bit of fallout from the Christchurch terror attacks – comments by the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, that anyone who comes to Turkey with anti-Muslim sentiments would be sent back in coffins, “like their grandfathers were” during the Gallipoli campaign. |
| Morrison warned that “all options are on the table” due to the offensive remarks and Australia will review its travel advisory for Turkey, a threat that could see Australians directed not to travel to Turkey for Anzac Day commemorations at Gallipoli, attended by thousands every year on 25 April. | Morrison warned that “all options are on the table” due to the offensive remarks and Australia will review its travel advisory for Turkey, a threat that could see Australians directed not to travel to Turkey for Anzac Day commemorations at Gallipoli, attended by thousands every year on 25 April. |
| Morrison said he did not accept the Turkish ambassador’s “excuses” that the comments were “in the heat of the moment … in an electoral context”. | Morrison said he did not accept the Turkish ambassador’s “excuses” that the comments were “in the heat of the moment … in an electoral context”. |
| In election rallies, Erdoğan has repeatedly shown excerpts of a video taken by the attacker who killed 50 people in mosques in New Zealand, to denounce what he called rising hatred and prejudice against Islam. | In election rallies, Erdoğan has repeatedly shown excerpts of a video taken by the attacker who killed 50 people in mosques in New Zealand, to denounce what he called rising hatred and prejudice against Islam. |
| Morrison said: | Morrison said: |
| I believe the comments also completely misrepresent the very strong position taken by the Australian and New Zealand governments in our response to the extremist attack in New Zealand that was committed by an Australian, but in no way, shape, or form, could possibly be taken to represent the actions, or any policy or view of the Australian people. | I believe the comments also completely misrepresent the very strong position taken by the Australian and New Zealand governments in our response to the extremist attack in New Zealand that was committed by an Australian, but in no way, shape, or form, could possibly be taken to represent the actions, or any policy or view of the Australian people. |
| All Australians have condemned it, as, indeed, I have, swiftly, and the New Zealand Prime Minister has. | All Australians have condemned it, as, indeed, I have, swiftly, and the New Zealand Prime Minister has. |
| But not only that, it has not just been our condemnation of that attack, but it has been our response, both as countries, who have an open, tolerant society, accepting of all faiths and peoples, that we have reached out to embrace our Muslim brothers and sisters in New Zealand and in Australia, quite to the contrary of the vile assertion that has been made about our response. | But not only that, it has not just been our condemnation of that attack, but it has been our response, both as countries, who have an open, tolerant society, accepting of all faiths and peoples, that we have reached out to embrace our Muslim brothers and sisters in New Zealand and in Australia, quite to the contrary of the vile assertion that has been made about our response. |
| The response of our free people in New Zealand and Australia, I think, is the message that needs to be communicated to the Turkish people, and I believe is a view respected by the people of Turkey and certainly by Turkish Australians.” | The response of our free people in New Zealand and Australia, I think, is the message that needs to be communicated to the Turkish people, and I believe is a view respected by the people of Turkey and certainly by Turkish Australians.” |
| Morrison walked a fine line, claiming that he wants to de-escalate the situation and calling for the comments to be withdrawn, while also threatening possible consequences if they are not. Whether this has the desired effect or plays into Erdoğan’s hands remains to be seen. | Morrison walked a fine line, claiming that he wants to de-escalate the situation and calling for the comments to be withdrawn, while also threatening possible consequences if they are not. Whether this has the desired effect or plays into Erdoğan’s hands remains to be seen. |