Ministry Statements & Speeches:
The New Zealand Consulate General and New Zealand Permanent Mission to the United Nations join together with the New Zealand community in grieving for the victims of the terrorist attack in Christchurch, on Friday 15 March 2019.
This act of terror goes against the core of what New Zealand stands for. We represent diversity, kindness, compassion. We will stand up for these values at home, in our lives in the United States, and at the United Nations. These values will not and cannot be shaken by this attack.
New Zealand is known around the world as a peaceful and safe country and we will remain just that.
On Friday New Zealand’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Craig Hawke, joined with New York City’s Mayor Bill De Blasio, New York’s Commissioner for International Affairs Penny Abeywardena, and Imam Saed Cherno Jalloh, with other community leaders at the Islamic Cultural Center, to stand in solidarity with the people of New Zealand, and with our Muslim communities in New Zealand, New York and around the world.
A minute of silence was held at UN Security Council, the New Zealand Permanent Mission and at the New Zealand Consulate General in New York City on Friday afternoon to remember and honour the victims of the attack.
We deeply appreciate the many messages of sympathy, support, and solidarity that we are receiving from our New Zealand community and friends of New Zealand from across the United States. It means so much during this difficult time.
A condolence book will be open at the Permanent Mission of New Zealand, 600 Third Avenue, New York 10016, from Monday 18 March to Wednesday 20 March, between the hours of 11am and 4pm. Identification will be required in order to access level 14.
Those wishing to add their condolences electronically can send them to nzpmun@gmail.com by 4pm on Wednesday, 20 March. Messages will then be printed out and added to the book.
Our thoughts and prayers are with those who lost their lives, their families and friends, and the Muslim community in New Zealand and around the world.
Kia kaha, kia māia, kia ora.