Preelection ‘prayer for the nation’

A group of about 40 people gathered in Dunedin’s lower Octagon for a national anthem flash mob yesterday — surprising onlookers.

Organiser Nicola Lynch (below right) said she had invited a few people from the Christian community, and the word spread.

The New Zealand national anthem was a ‘‘powerful prayer for the nation and an opportunity to bless the country prior to election day’’.

‘‘It was lovely,’’ she said.

‘‘The sun came out for us and that is brilliant.

‘‘I love the national anthem and I always thought it would be great to sing it publicly as a group.’’

Veronica Jackman (below centre), of Dunedin, began the first verse in Maori before the others gathered around her and joined in.

‘‘I really enjoyed it.

‘‘We all got together for our love for Jesus Christ and our nation,’’ she said.