A Wellington charity for former refugees says many are fearful the New Lynn supermarket terror attack will have negative repercussions for them and their communities.
ChangeMakers Resettlement Forum general manager Jacqueline Wilton says their hearts are with the seven victims of the attack on Friday, their families and friends, and all those affected by the atrocity.
On Friday a man went into a New Lynn Countdown and stabbed shoppers before he was gunned down by police. Authorities have revealed that he came to New Zealand as a student in 2011 and was granted refugee status in 2013.
The act of hatred was the work of an individual and not supported by or representative of refugee background communities in Aotearoa who are "inordinately community minded, law-abiding and peaceful members of our society", Wilton said in a media statement.
"Our minority groups are overwhelmingly condemning this act of terrorism."
