Me he ua i te rangi, he wai i aku kamo. Tangihia ngā mate kua riro i te ringa o te pokokohua rā! Kautau i whakapiko i te āhurutanga o tō whare whakaruruhau.
Moe mai rā i roto i ngā manaakitanga o Allah, E moe e!
Ki ngā kanohi kitea ō rātau mā, e rere tonu ana te wai aroha, kia kaha, kia maia, kia manawanui!
As-salamu alaykum,
We remember the 51 lives lost and the 40 people injured three years ago in the 15 March terror attacks on the Muslim ummah here in Ōtautahi, Christchurch. We remember the whānau and communities who suffered the loss of their loved ones. We acknowledge the pain, anger, courage, compassion, love, and strength of the Muslim ummah here in Aotearoa.
Ngā tauwhirotanga o te wā ki a tātau katoa. Ko ngā whakaaro nui me te aroha nui e rere tonu ana ki ngā whānau e noho ana i raro i te kapua pōuri i tēnei wā.
Aotearoa has a long way to go to address the causes of violence and racism both as individuals and as a wider community. We must as individuals acknowledge that peace begins with us and that we must nurture the seeds of love and understanding, not fear, if we are to build peaceful communities inclusive of all.
Legislative changes since the attacks such as the ban of semi-automatic rifles are good first steps towards limiting the harm from arms circulating here in Aotearoa. An initiative by singer Yusuf Islam to bring a ‘Peace Train’ to Hagley Park later this year will be a tangible and engaging reminder of our city’s ongoing commitment to peace. May we each uphold this commitment.
Kia piki te kaha, ki piki te ora, kia piki te mauri!
