Grief at tourist’s death expressed
YOU Are My Sunshine was the last song sung at a vigil for slain English tourist Grace Millane in Dunedin’s Octagon last night.
About 300 people gathered to hear speakers, share sadness and show solidarity in the face of Miss Millane’s death.
People stood close together, some holding candles, and moving karakia and stiring waiata were performed.
The names of 14 women killed in New Zealand this year were also read, speeches delivered and songs sung.
Candles were then lit near an impromtu shrine bearing photographs of Miss Millane.
Flowers were also placed nearby and among notes were the messages ‘‘Fly Free Angels’’ and ‘‘Love and Light’’.
Vigil coorganiser Izzy LomaxSawyers later said many people had ‘‘felt a lot of shock and shame about this happening in New Zealand’’.
Women had a right to be safe, and free from this kind of ‘‘horrible tragedy’’.
The event had also helped her to ‘‘process the grief’’ and anger she and other people had been feeling about the death of Miss Millane.
Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull told the vigil that he felt ‘‘shame, bitter, deep shame’’ when he had heard that that the body of Miss Millane had been found near Auckland.
Mr Cull had also felt shame that this was yet another crime which had been inflicted ‘‘on a woman by a man’’.
‘‘Grace is beyond hurt and pain but her family are not.’’