​Koutou kua riro, e moe

Tātou kua mahue, aroha ki te tangata ko tātou tātou - kia atawhai ki te iwi

Those who have gone, may you finally rest in peace
We who remain, love and compassion to each and every one of us – care for the people

As-salāmu ʿalaykum  Peace be upon you

Prime Minister, Your Excellencies, Heads of State and all the dignatories who have travelled here,

I stand alongside Ngai Tahu and mana whenua, to greet you all and to welcome you to Otautahi, our city of Christchurch.

To those who watch from afar, welcome; you are one with us today.

To all the people of Christchurch, including our elected members and local leaders, and especially especially our Muslim brothers and sisters, we come together again as one, as we have done every day in our hearts and minds since the 15th March 2019.

I started my welcome with an acknowledgement to those people who were taken from us on that day.  I offer sympathy on behalf of the people of Christchurch to all the families, who grieve - you do not grieve alone, we grieve with you. 

What happened here in our city on that day, which was a cowardly attack on our Muslim communities in their places of worship at their time of prayer, was also an attack on us all; on our shared values and on our way of life.

Inspired as it was by hatred, those actions were designed to divide us and tear us apart; they have instead united us, as we are embraced in the compassion and love that we feel for each other no matter where we were born, no matter how we express our faith.

We thank everyone who has sent a message, a tribute, a flower, a poem, a picture - children from across the country have shared their aroha in such special and poignant ways - and the city leaders across the globe, who have stood shoulder to shoulder with their communities in all their diversity, expressing the same solidarity we can feel here today.

Thank you for sharing our grief and thank you for helping restore our faith in humanity.

I ask that today, we collectively express our gratitude and thanks to all those who have played such an extraordinary role in our city in response to what has occurred. 

We thank our first responders including the NZ Police, St John Ambulance services and the members of the community at the mosques and passers-by. We honour those who went above and beyond the call of duty.

We thank all the hospital staff, who worked tirelessly to save lives and who have offered care to those who were injured and their families. 

We acknowledge the dedication of the coroner’s, city council, City Care and funeral director teams, along with members of the wider NZ Muslim community, who all worked together to ensure the families could bury their loved ones with dignity and respect. 

We honour the Imams for their inspiring leadership and for inviting us to attend their Call to Prayer; we honour the Muslim Community Leadership Group for their dedication and we thank all those that have provided cultural advice and ensured decision-making has had the community at its heart. We will continue to work together as one.

We acknowledge and thank the Prime Minister and the NZ government for all the support they have wrapped around our city and thank them for taking urgent action to strengthen New Zealand’s gun laws.

And we call upon the social media platforms to take more responsibility for ensuring that such atrocities cannot be live-streamed and that messages of hate that fuel attacks on members of any community cannot be shared.  Hate has no place here; hate has no place anywhere. 

I have witnessed people across the city and within the building where I work drop everything and commit every ounce of their being to supporting the response and setting up for the recovery. We know from our experience that placing the community at the heart of all that we do, ensures our purpose and direction will be true.

That is why I am confident that we will get through this time and emerge a kinder and more compassionate place, something we wish for the world.   

However, first we each have a responsibility to ask the hard questions of ourselves about what comfort any of us might give to people who harbour racist or extremist views. We now know where this can end. We need to look in the mirror, be honest about who we are and we must all pledge to being a city of inclusion that genuinely embraces diversity every day.

Otautahi Christchurch is a city of peace; we are a city committed to honouring human rights.  We need to make this real and we can help lead the way.

We will not be defined by what happened on the 15th of March 2019, we are defined by what followed - the unity, the love, the compassion and the kindness - they are who we are. 

Nothing will come between us, no one stands alone, we stand together. We are one - ko tatou tatou.
​
No reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou tēnā ra tātou katoa 

It is with a heavy heart that I stand to record the atrocity that was perpetrated on our city on March 15, 2019, and to invite all of us as the Christchurch City Council to record our condemnation for this attack, which may have targeted our Muslim communities, but which was an attack on us all - an attack on our values - and our way of life. This act, which was inspired by hatred and was designed to divide us and tear us apart; it has instead united us with all our communities and embraced us in compassion and love. An injury to one is an injury to all. We are one. 
 
On March 15 2019, as school students handed over their open letter to city and government leaders demanding that we take action on climate change, a white supremacist opened fire on a group of people who had gathered in prayer at Al Noor Mosque. He then went to the Linwood Islamic Centre and opened fire once more. His plans were disrupted by the courage of a man, who took action, and then by the two police officers who rammed his car and brought his rampage to a halt. The lives that were saved by the actions of these three men are incalculable. Other stories of heroism are emerging every day as we come to terms with the enormity of what has occurred.
 
This man, who is entitled to a fair legal process, is entitled to nothing more. No name. And no voice to his extremist views.
 
He came to our city with hatred in his heart and his intention to kill already formed in his mind. His hate was not born here nor nurtured here.
 
However, we all have a responsibility to ask the hard questions of ourselves about what comfort any of us might give to people who harbour these extremist views, through anything we might say or do. 
 
In 2017, we as a council endorsed the Christchurch Multicultural Strategy Te Rautaki Matawaka Rau – Our Future Together - I have reflected on its words since Friday the 15th, and I have asked myself whether we fully appreciated their significance before now.
 
The strategy’s vision is:
- Aroha ki te whenua, te tūāpapa o te manaaki. Kia atawhai ki te iwi.
Love and respect to the land, which is the foundation of hospitality. Care for the people.
- Ōtautahi Christchurch is an inclusive multicultural and multilingual city that honours Te Tiriti o Waitangi and values our environment – a city where all people belong.
 
Our Future Together was developed in partnership with community leaders and seeks three outcomes:
1. Ngā Pou Haumaru – The sheltering mountains – the land
A safe place that people are welcomed into, where each person is cared for and Rangatiratanga is respected.
2. Te Wairua Rāhiri – The welcoming spirit – the home people
A commitment to welcoming all who arrive to Ōtautahi with aroha and manaakitanga. A commitment to reciprocity when given such a welcome.
3. Te Waka Eke Noa – A purpose and model – the canoe we all are part of
An environment we can access where we can achieve common goals and understand the importance of working together.
 
I ask colleagues to reaffirm our commitment to ensuring those words are translated into reality.
 
And finally I ask that we collectively express our gratitude and thanks to all those who have played such an extraordinary role in our city since this atrocity occurred, acknowledging the impact it has had. 
 
We know from our experience that placing the community at the heart of all that we do, ensures our purpose and direction will be true.
 
We will not be defined by what happened on the 15th of March 2019, we are defined by what followed - the unity, the love, the compassion and the kindness - they are who we are, and we commit to ensuring that this moment in our history defines a future committed to social change for good. That’s our history and that’s our future.
 
I formally move the motion, which has been seconded by Cr Jimmy Chen who led the work on the Christchurch Multicultural Strategy: 
 
That, as a council:
 
We Condemn the attacks on our Muslim brothers and sisters as they worshipped at the Al Noor Mosque and Linwood Islamic Centre on March 15, 2019, and extend our deepest sympathy to the families of those whose lives were so cruelly taken and express our heartfelt sorrow to those who were injured and to the members of all our Muslim communities. Your pain is our pain, we are united in our shared grief; none of us stands alone, we stand together as one;
 
We Affirm our commitment to Otautahi Christchurch being a city of peace and a city that honours human rights, by truly living up to being a city of inclusion that embraces diversity, as declared in the Christchurch Multicultural Strategy Te Rautaki Matawaka Rau – Our Future Together, and we are thankful to all the people of Christchurch, who have demonstrated their commitment to its vision by coming together as one to offer support and care for each other at this time and into the future
 
We Express our gratitude for the extraordinary efforts of our first responders including the NZ Police, St John and the members of the community at the mosques and passers-by, and honour those who went above and beyond the call of duty;
 
We Express our thanks to all the hospital staff, who worked tirelessly to save lives and offer care to those who were injured and their families, and to the coroner’s, council, City Care and funeral director teams, and members of the Muslim community, who all worked together to ensure the families could bury their loved ones with dignity and respect; 
 
We Express our thanks to the teachers, who looked after our schoolchildren yet again, providing reassurance at a time when little was known of what was happening, and we acknowledge the impact on residents and businesses affected by the lockdown and the cordons around the mosques in Riccarton and Linwood;
 
We Honour the Imams for their inspiring leadership and for inviting us to attend their Call to Prayer, and we honour the Muslim Community Leadership Group for their dedication and thank all those that have provided cultural advice and ensured decision-making has had the community at its heart;
 
We Acknowledge the support provided by the Prime Minister and the government to our city and to our Muslim communities; and thank them for taking urgent action to strengthen New Zealand’s gun laws; and resolve that the Council will make a submission in support, delegating authority to sign off the submission to the Mayor and Deputy Mayor if necessary; 
 
We Call upon the social media platforms to take responsibility for ensuring that such atrocities cannot be live-streamed and that messages of hate cannot be shared;
 
We Thank all the Council staff who have built on their existing relationships with our local communities and partner agencies to ensure a well-coordinated response with the community at the heart of all we do, and for their absolute commitment to ensuring our communities jointly lead the recovery process;
 
We Thank all those who organised opportunities for different parts of the Christchurch community to gather together, so we could pay our respects in ways that were meaningful to us all;
 
And We Thank everyone who has sent tributes, messages of support, offers of help and financial contributions, along with all of those who have attended vigils in cities and towns across New Zealand and around the world.
 
Before I put the vote, I ask that we all stand in silence in memory of those whose lives were lost.
 
Assalaam Alaykum - peace be upon you - peace be upon us all. 

I would never believe I would be standing in front of a camera and talking to the people of Christchurch about the shocking incident that has affected us all. We still have sketchy details about what has actually happened and I will certainly be trying to get messages out to people as soon as I have more information to give. The city remains in lock-down and it is important that if people are inside, they stay inside. Don’t venture out. This is still an active situation and Police are still doing everything they can to get the situation under control.

The schools are in lockdown – the children are at school and they are safe. We have all of our facilities in lock-down – we are not letting people in and we are not letting people out.

I think it is really important that people remain absolutely calm and feel free to talk to friends and family about the feelings that you will have. It’s natural. I could never believe that something like this would happen in the city of Christchurch, but actually I would never believe that this would happen in New Zealand. It looks as if simply the worst has happened. We need to pull together and get through this situation.
I do apologise to those who are deaf. I would have somebody who signs standing beside me but because of the lock-down I cannot get anyone into the building to support me. We will get a transcript of this up as soon as we possibly can.

Please send a message to any family or friends and pass it on that we are to keep ourselves safe under the circumstances and as soon as we know any different we will let you know what is going on. There is a lot of speculation happening right now and all we can do is trust the Police to do what they do best and to support them in the directions they have given us. 
​
Thank you for your time. I’m really sorry to be saying this to you today.

​Mihi
 
May I begin by acknowledging the leadership of the three organisations, first the President of the Pacific Association of Paediatric Surgeons, Shan Zheng; Russell Taylor, President of the Australian and New Zealand Association of Paediatric Surgeons; and last, the convenor of the this 52nd combined meeting, the President of the New Zealand Society of Paediatric Surgeons, Professor Spencer Beasley.
 
And may I warmly welcome them and all the delegates from around the Pacific Rim to Otautahi, Christchurch.
 
I understand that this is the first meeting in New Zealand of the Pacific Association of the Paediatric Surgeons since 2007, so thank you for coming to Christchurch.
 
In my role as Mayor, I am invited to welcome people to our city on a frequent basis - today though is special. You are the first group to hold a conference here at the Christchurch Town Hall since it reopened just over two weeks ago.
 
I know that you booked the more intimate setting of the James Hay Theatre, but it is not quite ready yet. So than you for proceeding anyway.
 
For those that came early, the recital you have listened to is only the third occasion the wonderful Rieger Pipe Organ has been played in this way for eight years. So a special welcome to you all. 
 
As you know Christchurch has been through a lot over the past few years, and although we will never forget those whose lives were lost or disrupted in so many different ways, we have learned that from disaster comes opportunity. As a city, we have been exploring both the breadth and the depth of those opportunities.
 
And we also also know firsthand just how much people around the world are willing to share their own experiences, so we benefit from their success and learn from their mistakes. Here in Christchurch we are absolutely committed to doing the same for others.
 
I saw on your website your mantra ‘sharing knowledge, improving care’.
 
You have come to a place where we know the value of sharing knowledge. When it comes to children and young people, both their experience of that time and the impact of a post-trauma environment on their development and wellbeing, has been front of mind when we think of improving care.
 
As paediatric surgeons, you have come to the right place to share knowledge so that they will benefit from improved care.
 
And on a personal note, the other wonderful aspect of coming here is that there is much to do and explore, and as the international gateway to the rich and diverse Canterbury region, I invite you to explore all we have to offer.
 
I wish you well in your deliberations, and warmly welcome you to Otautahi, Aotearoa, Christchurch, New Zealand.
 
No reira tena koutou, tena koutou, tena ra tatou katoa