Local singer wanted for Mount Maunganui vigil

Light A Candle vigil is on tonight at Mount Maunganui. Photo / File

The organiser of tonight's Light A Candle vigil is on the search for someone to lead a rendition of one of New Zealand's most loved anthems at the event.

Stephanie Olver said Dave Dobbyn's Welcome Home was a poignant song and hoped someone would lead the group in singing it at the vigil to be held at the Hart Platform in Mount Maunganui from 7pm.

"I have some students coming from Mount College to do a waiata and some other people singing some mantras and other kinds of song but I thought (Welcome Home) was just an awesome song that people could sing because most Kiwis know it"

Olver said she felt compelled to organise the event in memory of those who lost their lives in the Christchurch shootings last Friday.

"I just put it out there and thought I wanted to do something. There was one on Saturday that i didn't know about and a lot of people missed it so I thought let's organise another one."

Dave Dobbyn. Photo / File

Olver said the biggest thing she hoped people took away from the event was that it was a call to action.

"Obviously we want to recognise these people and honour them and have a chance to mourn and grieve but I think we need to make sure we come away and don't just next week forget about it.

"What are we going to do, how are we as a community, as a country, as the conscious collective actually going to change stuff so this doesn't happen anymore?"

Olver said Dobbyn's song was inspired to write the song in 2005 after seeing Christchurch anti-racism protests and the sense of community that came through.

Olver said it was 2019 and the country was still dealing with the same issues.

"When are we going to learn that we just cant point at them and say well it was an Aussie..it wasn't an Aussie, it was people doing this to people."

Contact Stephanie on 0204 045 4692 if you are able to help.

Meanwhile local motorcyclist Mike Anderson has organised a ride to the Tauranga Mosque tomorrow.

Anderson, who is a member of the Maketū Gentleman's Club, said all riders were welcome and would meeting at the Papamoa Plaza by McDonalds at 12.45pm for a ride to the Tauranga Mosque on Eighteenth Ave.

The ride was "to show our support for our Muslim brothers and sisters."