A national remembrance service has been organized in New Zealand to commemorate the victims of the shooting attacks at the two mosques in the quiet city of Christchurch two weeks ago.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern (Source: AP)

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was joined by representatives from 59 nations, including her Australian counterpart Scott Morrison. The event also drew tens of thousands of people to attend.

In her speech, Ardern said, "violence and extremism in all its forms is not welcome here".

"The world has been stuck in a vicious cycle of extremism breeding extremism and it must end,”

"We cannot confront these issues alone, none of us can ... The answer lies in our humanity. But for now we will remember the tears of our nation and the new resolve we have formed.”

"We each hold the power - in our words, in our actions, in our daily acts of kindness - let that be the legacy of the 15th of March,” Ardern added.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern described the attacks as "one of New Zealand's darkest days". It is the deadliest mass shooting in modern New Zealand history.

Security was tight around the service and New Zealand remains on high security alert. Police Commissioner Mike Bush said it was one of the largest security events ever conducted by the police.

New Zealand has established a royal commission of inquiry into security agencies in the wake of the attacks.

On March 15th, an attacker armed with semi-automatic weapons rampaged through two mosques in the quiet New Zealand city of Christchurc, killing 50 worshipers and wounding dozens more.


Related Topics


Existential danger from COVID-19 pandemic

The danger from the COVID-19 pandemic is still latent, threatening people’s health and lives in the context that the immunity provided from the COVID-19 vaccine has decreased. Many other dangerous diseases are also likely to break out when the global vaccination rate slows down, due to inequality in access to health services, vaccine hesitancy, and consequences of economic recession.

Vietnam among ASEAN countries recording EV sales surge

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is witnessing a rise in the sales of electric vehicles (EVs) in Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia, according to Maybank Investment Bank Research (Maybank IB Research).

International friends bid farewell to Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong

The respect paying ceremony for Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong continued on the morning of July 26 at the National Funeral Hall in Hanoi, with high-level delegations from foreign countries and international organisations paying their last respects and expressing deep condolences.

Global outpouring of grief for Vietnamese Party chief

A wave of condolences have poured in from world leaders, international organisations, rulling parties, Communist parties and partner parties following the death of Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, a revered leader in Vietnam and world: Australian Senate President

President of the Australian Senate Sue Lines has expressed her deepest sympathy over the passing of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong and affirmed that he is a revered leader both in Vietnam and across the world.

Vietnam hopes UN, ASEAN coordinate closely, effectively over Myanmar issue: Ambassador

Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Vietnam’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN), on June 5 had a meeting with UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Myanmar Julie Bishop during her working visit to New York.