‘The time to act is now’ on gun law reform

As the country enters its fourth day of mourning after the Christchurch mosque shootings, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has indicated swift gun law reform.

In a post-Cabinet press conference yesterday evening, Ardern said Cabinet had made unified, ‘‘in-principal’’ decisions around gun law reform.

Within 10 days, reforms would be announced ‘‘which will have made our communities safer . . . The time to act is now’’, she said.

Fuller details would be released before next Monday’s post-Cabinet.

There would also be an inquiry looking into the specific circumstances leading up to the terrorist attack, which would include looking at what authorities knew about the perpetrator and whether the attack could have been prevented.

A national commemoration for the attack would be held, but not this week, Ardern said.

The news on possible gun reform came amid revelations Kiwis have been stockpiling semi-automatic weapons after the attacks allegedly committed by self-described white supremacist Brenton Tarrant, 28.

Online auction site Trade Me said it was removing all semiautomatic firearms and associated parts sales from the site yesterday morning.

Speaking yesterday evening, Police Commissioner Mike Bush said the investigation was the largest ever undertaken by police.

There were 250 detectives and specialists working on the investigation, as well as world authorities.

Bush said while police believed Tarrant was the main attacker, ‘‘that doesn’t mean there weren’t ... possibly other people in support’’.

For weeks to come, police would have high visibility, and most officers would have immediate access to firearms.

He was aware of Ardern’s announcement, and said police would ‘‘stand ready’’ for people surrendering their firearms.

There are still 31 patients who were injured in the attacks in Christchurch Hospital. Nine are in a critical condition.

A 4-year-old girl named Alen is fighting for her life in a critical condition in Starship children’s hospital in Auckland. Her father, Wasseim Alsati, is in a serious but stable condition in Auckland Hospital.

Most schools reopened in Christchurch yesterday, with the exception of Hagley College, acting as a welfare centre, which would open today.

Sixty-two schools and early childhood education centres asked the Ministry of Education for support after the attack, 20 of which were being prioritised.

Yesterday morning, Ardern opened a national condolence book in Parliament, alongside Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy. Another condolence book at the National Library on Molesworth St in Wellington was also available for people to sign.

More than $5 million had been donated towards victim support through Givealittle by last night – the most ever for a campaign since Givealittle started in 2008.

In two other fundraisers, $2m and $140,000 were raised, bringing the total to more than $7m.

Police began to release victims’ bodies to their families yesterday. It’s hoped all bodies would be returned to families by tomorrow.

Traditionally, Muslims would bury their loved ones within 24 hours, but this hasn’t been possible due to the police investigation.

Gun City’s owner David Tipple admitted selling the four category-A firearms, and ammunition, between November 2017 and March 2018, to Tarrant.

However, Tipple denied selling him a semi-automatic rifle, or magazines.

Corrections staff confirmed Tarrant was being held in a specialist security facility, where he is segregated from other prisoners and being monitored 24/7.

He remains in custody, charged with one count of murder. Further charges are likely.

Stuff revealed he worked out obsessively at a Dunedin gym directly opposite a Muslim early childhood centre. Australian counter-terrorism police raided the home of Tarrant’s sister Rosie, and his mother Sharon’s boyfriend.

Australian police said they were working to obtain material to help New Zealand Police.

Both Rosie and Sharon were in protected police custody, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

Meanwhile, an 18-year-old student appeared in Christchurch District Court charged with offences under the Films, Videos and Publications Classification Act.

He’s alleged to have reposted the live stream of the shootings on Facebook, and on a separate charge is alleged to have made an objectionable publication showing a photograph of the Deans Ave mosque with the message ‘‘Target Acquired’’, and further chat messaging which incited extreme violence.

He was remanded in custody to April 8.

Police would ‘‘stand ready’’ for people surrendering their firearms.