Northland schools show solidarity for Christchurch mosque attack victims

Students and staff going without food for the day and teenagers making hundreds of green ribbons to sell.

This is what some Northland schools have done, or are planning to do, to show solidarity for the Muslim community after the mosque shootings in Christchurch last Friday.

Dianne Lim, the head girl of Pompallier Catholic College, and Kirwin Hampshire, head boy of the college, said many staff and students would be fasting during the school day tomorrowas well as raising money for the families of those who were killed.

"We wanted to show that our high school is standing in solidarity with the victims of the Christchurch attacks. We think the fast was a good idea because it's Lent - it's what Christians do and we're a Christian school - and then also fasting is one of the five pillars in Islam," Lim said.

Pompallier Catholic College head students Dianne Lim and Kirwin Hampshire say many staff members and students will fast to show solidarity for the Muslim community. Photo / John Stone

The students said they were aware the discomfort they might experience from fasting was insignificant compared with the pain and suffering of the people in Christchurch, but they believed fasting was a symbolic way of showing solidarity and their rejection of racism and hate.

"We need our fellow students to communicate to each other that they reject white supremacy and its hate message and that they are serious about it," said Kirwin.

The college had invited other schools to join the fast and Ōtamatea High School had already responded saying it would take part.

Rodney College also said it would be joining but it has broadened the theme to "giving up something". The school was also getting behind the Christchurch "Colour Your Day" initiative, which encourages people to wear something colourful on Friday, and would be having a gold-coin donation mufti with a minute's silence at 1.40pm.

Kamo High School students and staff with the green ribbons. Photo / Supplied

Meanwhile, Kamo High School students are showing solidarity in a different way.

Student Tyla Trigg, 15, and Mya Kereopa, 14, made hundreds of green ribbons on Tuesday to sell to fellow students for a gold coin as a way of raising money for the families affected by last week's terrorist attack.

"They are a simple way for individuals to show they stand with the affected families," she said.

Trigg said green was chosen because it is an Islamic colour and also the colour of New Zealand nature.

She said Kamo High School's 911 students would also be having a mufti day todayto boost fundraising efforts.

"We may be in Whangārei, but we can still help Christchurch."

The Kaipara community will also be standing in solidarity tomorrowwith a Dargaville and Northern Wairoa Community Vigil for Christchurch organised for 4pm to 5pm at the Taha Awa Riverside Gardens.