Govt 'turning its back' on victims of March 15 attack, imam says

The imam of one of the Christchurch mosques attacked on March 15 said he believes the current Government has "turned its back" on the victims of New Zealand's deadliest ever mass shooting.

Two consecutive mass shootings at the Al Noor Mosque and Linwood Islamic Centre in Christchurch killed 51 people and injured 40 others on March 15, 2019.

Imam Gamal Fouda, who was at Al Noor Mosque on the day of the attack, spoke today at a public meeting on keeping military-style semi-automatic weapons out of the community.

"I'm disappointed to say the current Government has turned its back on the victims of 15th of the March as if this massacre had never happened," he said.

"All the support had been taken away from the victims, and the last one now, which was a legacy to honour the victims of 15 of March, now the Government intend to soften the firearms [reforms]."

Official documents obtained by 1News show a reduction in funding across multiple different agencies at once, including wraparound support service Kaiwhakaoranga, an immigration funding pool and a special immigration pathway.

Measures to deter future terror attacks have also been scrapped, including a cross-agency co-ordinated response effort, an advice body named Kāpuia and a major counter-terrorism hui.

Meanwhile, the coalition has promised to rewrite the Arms Act before the end of its term, which could see the rules around military-style weapons relaxed.

Fouda said the attack left a "permanent scar" on the community and the country.

"We must not go backwards. Allowing the general public to access these weapons again, even for recreational purposes, puts all of us at risk.

"I urge the Government to honour the memory of the victims of March 15 by keeping the ban on these weapons."

He said survivors continue to suffer and needed more support.

"We are very disappointed and we are very sad, and still our community is recovering from what happened as if it is fresh in our memory."

He called directly on Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to intervene.

"Don't do this, this is not safe for our country."

The Arms Act rewrite is being led by Act MP and former gun lobbyist Nicole McKee, who has previously promised to consult with the public before any changes are made.

In a statement to 1News, McKee said the Government has met with a number of Muslim groups and had face to face conversations to advise them nothing has yet to be drafted.

"We are focused on public safety and compliance and producing good laws for the future."

She said the Government will provide opportunities for all stakeholders, including those who attended today's meeting, to submit at select committee time.

"We promise to allow more than a three day select committee stage when a Bill is progressed under this Government."

National MP Judith Collins, who has been coordinating the Government's response to the attacks, said March 15, 2019 was "one of the darkest days in New Zealand's history".

She said the Government has now concluded its "coordinated cross-government response".

"That does not mean the work stops – but we are moving to a new phase of the response whereby it is embedded into what government agencies do every day."

1News has approached the Prime Minister's office for comment.

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