Welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Vigils held around country to mourn the victims of Christchurch mosque attacks, Muslim community speaks out about years of Islamophobia, and gun laws look set to change. The terrorist attack against two Christchurch mosques has sparked mourning throughout the country. The attack against the city’s Muslim community has caused … Read more
‘We need someone asking what is being done about racist hatred’, says head of African Communities Forum. An African community group is redoubling demands for the urgent appointment of a Race Relations Commissioner following the terrorist attack in Christchurch that has left 50 people dead. The position has been empty for over nine months since … Read more
The terrorist attacks that tore through the Muslim community in Christchurch also exposed ugly truths about New Zealand. By Toby Morris
In the wake of the terrorist attacks on Friday, people are aruging that the Crusaders name is now problematic, writes Jamie Wall for RNZ. Let’s face it, though: it always was. ‘Problematic’. It’s a word that gets bandied around a bit these days, usually about something someone has said on social media, or something they’ve … Read more
After the terrorist atrocity in Christchurch, supporters including Sikhs are rallying around the Muslim community to ensure bodies can be buried as quickly as possible. Madeleine Chapman reports from Christchurch On Sunday morning the roads were reopened. The mound of flowers at the corner of Deans Ave and Riccarton Rd, perched as close as the … Read more
For more than five years, Muslim representatives knocked on every door we could, we spoke at every possible forum. We pointed to the rise of vitriol and the rise of the alt-right in New Zealand, writes Anjum Rahman of the Islamic Women’s Council of NZ How does a heart break? Does it shatter into a million … Read more
Faisal Halabi – an Arab, a Muslim, and a New Zealander – reckons with what all those identities mean for him. I’m sitting in my London flat, thinking about the distance between myself and New Zealand. It’s just over 18,000km. I’m also thinking about the distances between the different identities I’ve balanced growing up in New Zealand: … Read more
Thousands across the country have been gathering this weekend for the victims and families of the Christchurch terror attacks. At Auckland’s Aotea Square vigil on Saturday, words of love and triumph were preached, as were reminders of New Zealand’s xenophobic past. “Look at this place, it’s completely empty,” my taxi driver remarks as we drive … Read more
Most gun owners in NZ are law abiding, safety conscious people. But laws that are easy to bypass enabled the appalling tragedy of the Christchurch mosque shootings. A firearm owner writes. New Zealand has long been a country associated with firearms. From our history as a rugged wild paradise where life was focused on hunting … Read more
Christchurch seemed like a place where nothing happened, writes Guyon Espiner for RNZ. Now, an offshore horror has wormed its way in – or perhaps it was here all along. If you dug a hole from Paris and kept on digging right through to the other side of the world you would end up in Christchurch. … Read more
Today it seems in some ways another age, but on Friday young people from around New Zealand and around the world rallied together to demand action on climate change. Sonya Nagels met some of the strikers in Auckland. Scarlett, 15 “This is our home, and without it, none of it – school, NCEA – none of it … Read more
In the wake of the Christchurch mosque attacks, a survivor from the 1996 Dunblane school massacre living in New Zealand has some constructive advice for the media and the public. I live in New Zealand now, but 23 years ago this week I was an 11-year-old at primary school in Dunblane. To be more precise, … Read more
Rose Hanley-Nickols: I survived a mass shooting 23 years ago. Here’s how to help survivors today “Don’t play audio or video from the event. Ever. Last year I was woken up by gunfire from the Parkland shooting. Thanks for that, RNZ National. Don’t fixate on the numbers of dead and injured. It dehumanises the victims … Read more
A day that began with the hope of the climate march ended with the despair of a massacre, writes James Dann from Christchurch. I want to say it started like an other day, but it didn’t. It was grey and wet. By the time school climate strike kicked off, the rain had stopped, and the … Read more
The days ahead will be full of difficult feelings and even more difficult conversations. Louisa Woods writes about how to start and have these conversations with your children. For many of our children and teens, yesterday dawned full of hope. They stood together, united, passionate, and energised. We saw them reject apathy, counter ignorance, and … Read more
A 28 year old man was charged with murder after an unprecedented terror attack in a city still patching itself together. Madeleine Chapman reports from Christchurch She had made the coffee strong because she figured the police officers stationed at the end of her street didn’t sleep much last night. She was right. Two hours, … Read more
The warning signs for yesterday’s atrocity were everywhere, if only we’d looked – or listened to New Zealand’s Muslim community, writes former race relations commissioner Susan Devoy. A few weeks ago a good friend rang me to say her family and friends had once again been threatened by racist, anonymous strangers. The fear in her … Read more
Our mosques and communities have always been heavily scrutinised for signs of extremism. But as a Muslim New Zealander, my question is this: what was put in place to protect us from terrorists, writes Sohail Din A sentiment of devastation and disgust today pervades the New Zealand Muslim community, as it does all New Zealanders. … Read more
The prime minister has just delivered an update to media from the Beehive on the security situation following the mosque terror attacks in Christchurch. Here is the text of her statement. A total now of 49 people have been killed – work is under way to confirm their identities as quickly as possible. Forty-one people … Read more
New Zealanders were furious with news organisations that broadcast video and manifesto related to the atrocity in Christchurch. But what about the online giants which made it all accessible? I’m sitting in a hotel room in Singapore, having just left Facebook’s APAC HQ, about to attend a news conference organised by Google, thinking about Christchurch. … Read more
This Friday marks one week since 50 Muslim New Zealanders were killed at worship. Here are some things you can do to remember the lives lost and support a devastated community. Observe a two-minute silence Prime minister Jacinda Ardern announced yesterday that a two-minute silence will be observed on Friday to remember the lives lost in … Read more
A Friday night meeting in response to the Christchurch shootings discussed demonstrations and plans to stand guard outside New Zealand mosques for Friday prayers. Alex Braae reports. Within hours of the devastating acts of terrorism in Christchurch, plans were already being made in Auckland for a staunch response. At least 49 people were killed in … Read more
Dozens are dead following racially motivated mosque shootings in Christchurch. The attack was streamed on global social media channels by the offender, who is now in Police custody. Jacinda Ardern said NZ was targeted because ‘we represent diversity’ This article was updated through the course of March 15; the original version, published at 3.25pm, is archived … Read more
‘This can only be described as a terrorist attack,’ Jacinda Ardern has said from the New Zealand parliament, following a crisis meeting of NZ security chiefs in response to the mass murder at mosques in Christchurch. Below, an edited transcript of her remarks, and responses to journalists’ questions. I have now had the opportunity to … Read more
A shooting at a mosque in the NZ city, which is reported to have left several people dead, was livestreamed online. Note: this is the original report published at 3.25pm on March 15 2019. It was updated through the day to incorporate developments and responses, including from Facebook. The final updated post from the end … Read more
A series of haiku by Twitter bard Uther Dean. Haiku Sue tore up her will, Drank the serum. Fuck the kids. She’d live forever. * My latest mantra: ‘None of this is important. You have enough love.’ * My man-size pillow Has a single hand to hold And a … Read more
A global day of action from young people is under way in New Zealand. We’ll be updating throughout the day here – send us your pics and observations for publication: info@thespinoff.co.nz. For everything you need to know about today’s planned events, go here. 2:50pm: The Spinoff has just been sent a photo taken during Nicola Willis’s … Read more
The only published and available best-selling book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington. Auckland 1 John Scott Works by David Straight (Massey University Press, $70) Gorgeous tome celebrating the career of one of our most influential architects. … Read more
Good morning, and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Brexit No Deal threat looms for Kiwi exporters, students to go on climate strike today, and families of disabled people fear support cuts by stealth. New Zealand businesses are being told they need to prepare now for the possibility of an imminent no-deal Brexit. The UK is … Read more