Linking hands and voices in tribute
Spread love, not hate.
That was the message from Nelson College head boy Mathew Mayer as more than 100 students prepare to open a special service at the Nelson mosque today to honour the victims of the Christchurch attacks.
The Year 13 students are due to begin the public tribute, called ‘‘Hands Around Nelson’s Mosque’’, with a haka at Nelson’s Islamic Cultural Society centre on Hardy St.
The society’s president, Moayid Sherif, will welcome those gathered, after a mihi and karakia from Archdeacon Harvey Ruru.
Representatives from the city’s Jewish community, Council of Churches and Multicultural Nelson Tasman group are among those due to speak, before people are invited to hold hands around the building ahead of Friday prayers.
Mayer hoped actions would speak as loud as words when the students performed a haka to start proceedings at 12.30pm.
‘‘I think it will be a good opportunity to show that as a school, and as a community we stand with the Muslim community.
‘‘Actually going out and showing through our actions that we care.’’
Since the tragedy, the school had emphasised to students the need to look out for each other, and talk about how they felt, Mayer said. It was a time to spread unity not division.
‘‘We have students from around 38 countries here. To reach out to them and support them during a time like this is important.’’
New Zealanders as a whole needed to reflect on how they acted towards others, Mayer said.
‘‘I think making people aware of the fact that everyone, no matter where they come from, we’re all the same, we all deserve to be treated the same.’’
It was good to see New Zealand come together in the face of the atrocity however, and not engage in divisive rhetoric, he said.
‘‘There is a unanimous feeling of unity in New Zealand and I think that reflects that New Zealand, generally, is a place that respects and appreciates the different cultures.’’
Nelson College had approached the Muslim community to be part of today’s show of support.
Deputy principal Ron Kelly said vigils that continued to be held across the country were part of New Zealand’s healing process.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, on a visit to Cashmere High School in Christchurch on Wednesday, said students needed to ‘‘guard against’’ hate and division on social media.
Mayer said he didn’t know of any students who had seen footage of the attack that was livestreamed on social media platforms.
Nelson College for Girls’ principal Cathy Ewing said the school was aware of some students who may have viewed the footage, but not of any who had watched it at the school.
‘‘We have ensured that there is support for them and have given information to all of our parents about working through this with them,’’ she said.
Nelson’s Race Unity Day will be held this Sunday in Victory Square from 11am-4pm. The event was postponed from last Sunday to give people the time to grieve and reflect on the Christchurch attacks.
‘‘We have students from around 38 countries here.’’
Nelson College head boy Mathew Mayer