This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2019/mar/20/new-zealand-shooting-jacinda-ardern-visits-christchurch-to-pay-tribute-to-victims-live
The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| New Zealand shooting: Jacinda Ardern visits Christchurch to pay tribute to victims - live | New Zealand shooting: Jacinda Ardern visits Christchurch to pay tribute to victims - live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Ardern is now speaking about the challenges posed by social media. She says it can be a tool for good - asking students to raise their hands if they heard about the vigil in Hagley Park through social media – but also says it is a place where messages of hate and division can spread. | |
| She tells students that she “alongside some of our international friends” will be looking into what can be done to stop this, but says she needs the help of the students to guard against messages of hatred and division as well. | |
| “Never underestimate the power of just sending a message, looking out for someone, performing the haka,” says Ardern. “There is power in that, because you are sending a message of support.” | |
| Ardern says that she is sure the students will feel as she does, that they want to make sure everyone feels safe, creating an environment where racism cannot exist. | |
| “This is my request, I alone cannot get rid of those things, I need help from every single one of us, so yes, gather together, show those outpourings of love, but also let NZ be a place where there is no tolerance for racism ever. That’s something we can all do.” | |
| Ardern says events like Friday’s attack are “completely alien to us” because New Zealand is a country of peace and diversity. | |
| “I bring the support of a whole bunch of New Zealanders for those who have lost someone and you would have seen that support, I think.” | |
| Ardern assures the students “It’s OK to grieve” and encourages them to call or text the 1737 number if they’re having a hard time. | |
| “As New Zealanders we immediately want to do something to help, to contribute and make a difference... It’s why you’ve seen your school be offered cakes and funds to try and help the students affected,” she said. | |
| Jacinda Ardern is speaking. She begins by addressing the school in Maori. | |
| She says she is here to hear what it has been like for the students, in light of the losses their school sustained in the attacks. Two Cashmere high school students and one former student died in the attacks. | |
| Ardern says that after she has finished speaking she will open up the event to any questions the students want to ask her. | |
| Jacinda Ardern has arrived at Cashmere High School and is being greeted by a haka, performed by students in the school’s gym. | |
| 400 Cashere High Students have gathered to welcome the prime minister who is visiting Christchurch today. In typical Kiwi fashion the principal has referred to the PM simply as "Jacinda". This school lost 2 pupils in the attack and had 5 student directly affected. | |
| More tributes from the UK overnight. Prince Harry and his wife Meghan paid their respects on Tuesday for the victims of last week’s mass shooting at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand in which 50 people were killed. | |
| The couple visited the High Commission of New Zealand in London, where they signed a book of condolence on behalf of the British royal family. They also laid small bouquets of flowers outside the building, known as New Zealand House. | |
| Harry and Meghan, who married last May and are expecting their first child this spring, visited New Zealand late last year as part of their Pacific tour. | |
| Bush says that more 120 people are involved in the process of identifying bodies and trying to get them back to their families. This includes the country’s best pathologists, 21 family liaison officers, who are meeting with every family who have lost a loved one. | |
| Bush says that while they are committed to returning the bodies to families quickly, the priority for the police is to ensure “absolute accuracy” in identifying the bodies, says Bush. It needs to be to “evidential” standard. | |
| Bush calls the swift return of victims’ bodies to their families an “absolute priority” for cultural reasons and personal reasons. | Bush calls the swift return of victims’ bodies to their families an “absolute priority” for cultural reasons and personal reasons. |
| New Zealand police commissioner Mike Bush is speaking now. | New Zealand police commissioner Mike Bush is speaking now. |
| He says 21 bodies had been formally identified last night and were ready to be released to families. | He says 21 bodies had been formally identified last night and were ready to be released to families. |
| Six more will be ready by midday, the “majority” by the end of the day. He says in some cases the identification “will take longer.” | Six more will be ready by midday, the “majority” by the end of the day. He says in some cases the identification “will take longer.” |
| A reminder that anyone who needs to talk in the wake of the shootings can do so by calling this number. | A reminder that anyone who needs to talk in the wake of the shootings can do so by calling this number. |
| Overnight, Brendan Cox, the husband of murdered British MP Jo Cox, tweeted his support for Jacinda Ardern’s decision not to speak the name of the shooter in the mosque attacks, a decision he also took. | Overnight, Brendan Cox, the husband of murdered British MP Jo Cox, tweeted his support for Jacinda Ardern’s decision not to speak the name of the shooter in the mosque attacks, a decision he also took. |
| Yes, yes and yes again. When Jo was killed I vowed the same. I have often genuinely forgotten the person’s name and my kids have never heard it. Notoriety is such an important driver for terrorists and we should all get better at denying them it. https://t.co/KQ56cJ4Oki | Yes, yes and yes again. When Jo was killed I vowed the same. I have often genuinely forgotten the person’s name and my kids have never heard it. Notoriety is such an important driver for terrorists and we should all get better at denying them it. https://t.co/KQ56cJ4Oki |
| Eleanor Ainge Roy who will be following Jacinda Ardern today to her various events in Christchurch reports that the prime minister has landed in Christchurch and is en route to Cashmere high school. | Eleanor Ainge Roy who will be following Jacinda Ardern today to her various events in Christchurch reports that the prime minister has landed in Christchurch and is en route to Cashmere high school. |
| Good morning and welcome to our continued coverage of the aftermath of the shootings in Christchurch in which at least 50 people were killed. | Good morning and welcome to our continued coverage of the aftermath of the shootings in Christchurch in which at least 50 people were killed. |
| After delivering a powerful commemorative address to parliament yesterday, Jacinda Ardern has returned to Christchurch today, where she will be attending events paying tributes to the victims and first responders. | After delivering a powerful commemorative address to parliament yesterday, Jacinda Ardern has returned to Christchurch today, where she will be attending events paying tributes to the victims and first responders. |
| Her first event, which starts at 10:30am local time (in about an hour) will be held at Cashmere high school, which lost two students and a former student in the shootings. | Her first event, which starts at 10:30am local time (in about an hour) will be held at Cashmere high school, which lost two students and a former student in the shootings. |
| We will bring you updates of those visits and any other news that breaks as the day unfolds. | We will bring you updates of those visits and any other news that breaks as the day unfolds. |
| My colleagues Eleanor Ainge Roy and Calla Wahlquist are on the ground in Christchurch, follow us (Eleanor, Calla, me) on Twitter, and please get in touch if you have any questions, news tips, photographs or thoughts you want to share with the blog. | My colleagues Eleanor Ainge Roy and Calla Wahlquist are on the ground in Christchurch, follow us (Eleanor, Calla, me) on Twitter, and please get in touch if you have any questions, news tips, photographs or thoughts you want to share with the blog. |