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March 15, 2022
Mana whenua awhi for mosque shoot victims lasting
Adam Gifford
Posted On March 15, 2022
Download AudioNgāi Tahu is counting the costs and the benefits of the Christchurch mosque in terms of the relationships it has forged with other communities.
It’s three years today since a gunman attacked worshipers at the Al Noor Mosque and the Linwood Islamic Centre, killing 51 while he streamed his rampage onto the internet.
Rūnanga Chief Executive Arahia Bennett says in the aftermath mana whenua Ngāi Tūāhuriri wrapped itself around the survivors and their whānau, welcoming them to Tuahiwi Marae north of the city and forging relationships which continue today.
The impact was summed up by its upoko, Te Maire Tau.
“‘This absolute tragedy that has occurred not only in Ōtautahi but impacting across Aotearoa and the world made us as tangata whenua look carefully at our relationships that must be inclusive and must be socially cohesive right across our whole nation,’ so that was a real eye-opener,” Ms Bennett says.
Ngāi Tahu wants to see progress on a hate speech and hate crimes law and leadership towards creating a society where everyone feels safe and included.
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