‘Our hearts are with you’

New Plymouth hairdresser Wendy Ashton spent six hours in lockdown as the Christchurch shootings unfolded.

On Friday Ashton was in the city for a marching competition held at Horncastle Arena in Addington, only kilometres away from the site of the two mosques targeted.

Ashton said she never once felt she was in danger but felt deeply for those affected.

‘‘We are a loving country and we do make sure we look after our own,’’ she said back in New Plymouth yesterday.

‘‘We can all learn from each other, no matter what our culture or background is.’’

There has been a national outpouring of grief in response to the shootings, which claimed 50 lives.

Thousands of people have attended vigils across the country while flowers and messages of support have been left outside mosques or places of worship.

More than $6 million has been raised for the victims.

New Plymouth visitor Lynley Copland broke down in tears when she spoke yesterday.

‘‘That’s too much hate, ’’ she said of the shootings.

Copland hoped the Government would ‘‘listen to the people’’ and make changes to the country’s gun laws.

‘‘We all live in a different world now this has happened on our shores.’’

For Heather Harp, who is from the United States, the news of what happened in Christchurch was particularly poignant.

America has grappled with the issue of gun control for years in the wake of multiple mass shootings, she said.

Her home state of Montana was built around a culture of hunting, but she questioned whether this hobby necessitated the arsenal some had.

Harp hoped the New Zealand Government would heed the call for stricter gun control here.

‘‘People will be able to overcome this tragedy but it is something we will all have to remember,’’ she said.

Miriam Sharpe had spent the weekend at the Womad festival and said many of the artists acknowledged the tragedy.

‘‘It’s difficult to believe that it’s happened in New Zealand. That’s the big shock I guess,’’ she said.

She hoped people would come together as a result.

‘‘Rally together and show the world that this isn’t going to be the cause of more hate in this country.’’

Yesterday morning Shaw-nae Heremaia was sitting down on the concrete outside the New Plymouth library, writing a message of support with chalk.

‘‘We are a team,’’ she wrote. Waitara’s O’Neill O’Carroll was also present at the makeshift memorial set up on Saturday.

He had nothing but love for those who had suffered.

‘‘Our hearts go out to the families and the Muslim community. We just want to send our love there.’’

Ha¯ wera High School principal Rachel Williams told her students to send the message that hate would not be tolerated in New Zealand. ‘‘Do the little things well. Greet people as they walk past and open doors for people, create a culture of tolerance and kindness,’’ she said.

Deputy head girl Sasha Finer was in tears speaking of 3-yearold victim Mucad Ibrahim.

‘‘He’d only had three years of life and he’s been murdered. I think it’s important to remember his name and remember the names of the other victims.’’