Fresh flowers, cards and messages at the Rotorua Islamic Centre. Photo / Cira Olivier
About 100 people have gathered outside Rotorua's Islamic Community Centre for afternoon prayers today.
Outside the Tarewa Rd centre members of the public and two police officers stood by their Muslim brothers and sisters while they prayed.
Rotorua Islamic community centre Imam Iftikhar Khan said it was beautiful to see people showing solidarity.
"Every human being has the same blood," he said, despite colour, beliefs or religion.
He said the turn out gave a lot of strength.
Thirteen students from Western Heights High School each with white roses stood outside the Islamic centre.
Two students from John Paul College came too. Twenty prefects lay white roses, cards and garlands outside the mosque.
The colourful cards had messages of sympathy and love to bring joy during a dark time.
Year 13 student Emily Wharekura said they felt it was important to show their love and support for the community.
She said it was difficult to know what to do because something like this hàd never happened in New Zealand.
A disregard for authority could be why those attending court are thumbing their noses.