New Zealanders more engaged with Muslim community

Jacinda Ardern says New Zealand has changed

Prime minister Jacinda Ardern said New Zealanders have become more engaged with the Muslim community in the year since a gunman killed 51 people at two mosques.

Ms Ardern was in Christchurch yesterday attending events to mark the anniversary of last year’s 15 March massacre, which she has described as one of New Zealand’s darkest days. She attended a special joint prayer with members of both mosques that were attacked. She plans to attend a national memorial on Sunday.

Among those speaking during the prayer service was Al Noor mosque survivor Farid Ahmed, whose wife Husna was killed in the attacks.

“Hate does not achieve any gain for the hater, or for anyone,” he said afterward. “If thereareanydifferences,there is another way, and that way is the peaceful way. We should talk, we should dialogue, we should ask one another questions, and we should not be afraid of one another.” Ms Ardern said people had told her they had visited mosques for the first time in the wake of the attacks and had found themselves more openly discussing differences of faith.

“A year on, I believe New

Zealand and its people have fundamentally changed,” she said. “I can’t see how you could have an event like this and not. But the challenge for us will be ensuring that in our everyday actions – and in every opportunity where we see bullying, harassment, racism, discrimination – calling it out as a nation.” Some questioned why the memorial event on Sunday was still going ahead amid fears over coronavirus.