Opposite of what terrorist intended

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Opinion

Yesterday’s fifth anniversary of the Christchurch mosque shootings brought back dreadful memories of by far the worst terrorist incident in this country’s history, but also what can be regarded as something to be proud of in the days, weeks and months that followed, and a lesson for the future.

Before this happened, it was something that New Zealanders regarded as unthinkable. Indeed, many who started getting the news that afternoon wondered if they had stumbled on to something fictional.

But within 15 minutes, 51 worshippers at the two Christchurch mosques had received fatal injuries while dozens more were injured.

It was not New Zealand’s worst loss of life from a single event, the Tangiwai rail disaster and the Hawke’s Bay earthquake exceed it, but it is one that stands out because of its horrific nature, not the traditional “act of God”.

Yesterday’s anniversary actually fell on Jumiah, Islam’s day of compulsory prayer.

Looking back now, it’s obvious that the madman who carried out the atrocity achieved the exact opposite of what he intended.

Former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern had her finest moment as she led the country in a national outpouring of grief, with the mantra “They are us”.

Federation of Islamic Associations spokesman Abdur Razzaq said this was a solemn and important day, and people should not forget that for the survivors and whānau, the trauma was ongoing: “It is every day, not just March 15.”

We have to understand that hate is out there, he said. We have to work through our differences, but diversity is important. It provides a rich tapestry for our culture in New Zealand. We have to appreciate each other’s differences and respect that.

Recalling the support and outpouring of grief from New Zealand in response to the attack was very important. It was actually the start of the healing process.

New Zealand’s Muslims have been praised for the way they responded to the attack with a message of love, forgiveness and compassion, which completely aligned with the central teachings of the world’s second biggest religion with nearly 2 billion followers.

That includes messages from many of those who lost family in the attack.

New Zealand has become increasingly diverse in recent decades, to the extent that it is one of the most ethnically diverse nations in the world.

There will always be some traditionalists who find change discomforting but the tide of history is running strongly against them.

In the modern New Zealand, tolerance and empathy are essential — something that tragedy five years ago taught us was so important.