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New Zealand mosque attack: Ardern urges gun owners to hand in their weapons – live
New Zealand mosque attack: Jacinda Ardern urges gun owners to hand in weapons – live
(30 minutes later)
Does Christchurch have a problem with racism? asks a journalist.
Ardern says she wants to reiterate the comments of Winston Peters and remind people: “In this case, the primary suspect here, the person who was arrested was not a citizen of New Zealand.”
But she continues: “That is not to say that there are not those who live in New Zealand who have values and ideas and use language that is counter to what the vast majority of New Zealanders believe. We cannot ignore that. If we are to ensure the safety of Muslims and others, the 200 ethnicities in New Zealand, we have to be alive to the fact there are those who do not share our values of openness.”
A journalist says that Muslim leaders have said they have felt threatened for years and have had their threats ignored.
Jacinda Ardern says that she is aware of these reports, that she has been told by intelligence services that every lead given to authorities has been followed up on. However, Ardern says that it is not enough for her to simply pass on the reassurances of agencies and that is why there will be an inquiry into what led up to the attack.
Winston Peters has been asked about the use of the video live-stream of the attack by Turkish authorities.
Peters said he had made it clear to Turkish leaders that New Zealand would take it very seriously if there was any suggestion that New Zealand condoned the attack. He says the attack was perpetrated by someone who is not a New Zealander and that New Zealand condemns terrorism in any form.
“We did not start or bring about this disaster,” he said.
Ardern has been asked about reports that people have been “panic-buying” guns. Ardern says she has only heard anecdotal accounts of this and warns anyone considering buying a gun to wait a few days to get some certainty around the laws before investing.
Ardern says that Facebook and Instagram are continuing to remove any replicas of the video of the attack. But she says the fact the video was shared 1.5million times, shows there is scope to “take a very direct approach to speech that incites violence or that incites hate”.
“I would call on our social media platforms to demonstrate responsibility... There’s a lot of work that needs to be done.”
Ardern says they are looking into the “patterns of behaviour” that often follow attacks like this one, including retaliatory and copycat attacks.
She says for this reason, New Zealand’s threat level will remain at “high”.
Ardern says police and intelligence are taking a careful approach.
Ardern is being asked if this decision was supported by NZ First party, led by Winston Peters, who is the deputy prime minister and is standing next to Jacinda Ardern at the press conference.
Peters says that his party has previously not supported recommendations to restrict gun laws, but that after 1pm last Friday: “Our world changed forever and so will some of our laws.”
Ardern has been asked for more detail about the changes to gun laws. She says that the government has, within 72 hours of the attack, agreed to in- principle changes, and now they want to take a moment to make sure they have worked out all the details of the legislation.
Ardern is comparing New Zealand’s response time to the response time of the Australian government in introducing tougher gun laws after the Port Arthur massacre in 1996.
Ardern says that a heavy police presence will continue to be seen on New Zealand’s streets. This is not about a specific threat, she says, but so as to reassure people and keep them safe.
Families who have lost a loved one in the attack can apply for a funeral grant up to $NZ10,000 and there can be additional money for those who want to return their loved ones overseas, says Ardern.
Families who have lost a loved one in the attack can apply for a funeral grant up to $NZ10,000 and there can be additional money for those who want to return their loved ones overseas, says Ardern.
Ardern says there will be a review of the events leading up to the attack and the work of the intelligence services, as well as the alleged gunman’s travel leading up to his time in New Zealand and his use of social media.
Ardern says there will be a review of the events leading up to the attack and the work of the intelligence services, as well as the alleged gunman’s travel leading up to his time in New Zealand and his use of social media.
The form of the inquiry will be revealed at a later date.
The form of the inquiry will be revealed at a later date.
The government has also had preliminary discussions around plans for commemorations of the victims of the two attacks.
The government has also had preliminary discussions around plans for commemorations of the victims of the two attacks.
Ardern says the memorial will not be held this week, so that families have an opportunity to grieve together.
Ardern says the memorial will not be held this week, so that families have an opportunity to grieve together.
Ardern says that the new laws are not aimed at any individual person and does not want them to be perceived as such.
She “applauds” those who have surrendered their weapons voluntarily and encourages others to do so.
Ardern says that the cabinet was “completely unified” in reforming legislation.
She says the attack was the worst in New Zealand’s history and one of the most serious around the world in recent history and that the attack exposed some serious problems in New Zealand’s gun laws.
Ardern says cabinet made in principle decisions about reforming gun laws, which means that within 10 days of the horrific attack, they will have reformed laws to make the country safer.
Jacinda Ardern is addressing the press now.
She praises the emergency services for their work and says she will meet with family members of those who have died, if they want her to.
We are continuing to update our piece naming the victims of the attack as information comes through about the people who died.
New Zealand attack: victims of the mosque massacre
A gofundme page set up to help raise money to cover the legal fees of the 17-year-old who egged Fraser Anning has raised more than $43,000.
Police released the boy without charge, although they have said they will investigate Anning striking and punching the boy in retaliation before the teenager was tackled to the ground and restrained by bystanders.
The boy, whom the Guardian is not naming because he is underage, has said he will donate most of the money to the victims of the Christchurch shooting.
Two lovely tributes here for the victims of the attacks in Christchurch on Friday. The first is from students and staff at Orewa College in Auckland, who form the Māori phrase ‘Kia Kaha’ (stay strong) and a love heart.
The second comes from students of the St Paul’s College Samoan Group who performed this Methodist hymn which was also sung in Samoa after the tsunami struck in 2009 killing 22 people.
The group were in Auckland for Polyfest , a large event featuring music, dance, speech and costume, from different Pacific Island cultures. Polyfest was held last week, but the final day was cancelled due to the Christchurch attack.
“Nothing will compare to the pain and agony that’s going down in Christchurch,” said AJ Tuipe’a, Deputy Head Boy, St Paul’s College, before the group performed the song.
“Despite Polyfest being cancelled, even throughout our 6 long weeks of hard work, nothing will compare to the pain & agony that’s going down in Christchurch” - AJ Tuipe’a, Deputy Head Boy, St Pauls College pic.twitter.com/KBUMf6rpn0
Christchurch hospital encourages people to look after their mental health
David Meates, chief executive, Canterbury District Health Board, also had a message for people emotionally affected by the attack, saying they should look after themselves and those around them:
As the majority of us return to work and school today, it’s probably more important than ever that we connect, share our thoughts and experiences, and help each other process what has happened. Spend time with people you love and talk about how you’re feeling. Consider taking a digital detox and take a break from social media. Instead, focus on an activity you love or on the people around you.
Look after yourself and those around you and remember that people cope in different ways. Disasters and tragedies take their toll and our resilient Canterbury people have been through much in recent times. For some that may make things easier because of the coping skills they have learned, but for others it may bring back unwelcome feelings or add to their anxiety. Feeling on edge and upset right now is a completely normal reaction. Recovery is a marathon, not a sprint, so allow yourselves time and be kind to yourself and others – a simple kind act or generosity of spirit and the support you give others might come at just the right time to make all the difference to them.
Supporting our kids and whānau
Children take their cues of parents — so if you’re OK, they’ll be OK too …
Be mindful how much “worry” you’re displaying, just be as cool as you can!
Keep children away from the media.
Answer their questions pretty matter-of-factly and in very “general” terms. Drama it down. You don’t have to get the answers exactly right here. Ensure you talk too about the police and how they did a really good job of keeping us safe. Keep the reassurance low-key too – over-reassuring can make us think we need to be worrying more than we are!
Let them talk about it, but don’t let it “take over” – use distraction to keep their mind off it.
Stick to your normal routines as much as you can.
Children take their cues of parents — so if you’re OK, they’ll be OK too …
Be mindful how much “worry” you’re displaying, just be as cool as you can!
Keep children away from the media.
Answer their questions pretty matter-of-factly and in very “general” terms. Drama it down. You don’t have to get the answers exactly right here. Ensure you talk too about the police and how they did a really good job of keeping us safe. Keep the reassurance low-key too – over-reassuring can make us think we need to be worrying more than we are!
Let them talk about it, but don’t let it “take over” – use distraction to keep their mind off it.
Stick to your normal routines as much as you can.
If you want to talk to a trained counsellor, you can phone or text 1737 to be put through to a counsellor any time of the day or night. This is a free service for everyone.
We currently have 31 patients who were injured in the mosque attacks in Christchurch Hospital. Two people were well enough to go home and have been discharged today.
There are still 9 people in a critical condition in intensive care. We continue to transfer any that are well enough to go to other wards as we can. People injured in the mosque attacks are our priority for surgery and other specialist care over the coming days. There is still a 4 year old girl in a critical condition in Starship Hospital in Auckland, transferred there on Saturday. Her father has also been transferred to Auckland and remains in a serious but stable condition.
Christchurch Hospital has good capacity at present and we are well-staffed, but we are also conscious that many of our people have worked long hours and will have been profoundly affected by this tragedy too. We need to look after them so they can look after you.
We are still asking the public to appreciate the additional workload on all of our health system staff. The hospital is extremely busy, as is primary care – you should continue to make your general practice team your first point of call for all non-urgent care. Call the usual general practice number 24/7 and after hours, you can get advice from a nurse – they will tell you what to do and where to go if you need to be seen.
Today we are running all available acute theatres for the many people who need follow-up surgery or procedures due to the complex nature of their injuries.
This means that we are postponing a significant number of surgeries planned for Cantabrians and others to free up theatre space and surgical teams today. To those who have had their surgery postponed, thank you in advance for your generosity and understanding.
Outpatient appointments are going ahead as planned.
