On the weekend of March 15, communities across New Zealand came together to commemorate the sixth anniversary of the tragic March 15 terrorist attacks. The Ministry for Ethnic Communities participated in several events in Christchurch and Wellington to honour the memory of the Shuhada (martyrs) and support survivors.
Saturday, 15 March: Unity Hui in Christchurch
The weekend's events began on Saturday, 15 March morning with the Unity Hui in Christchurch. Rt Hon Christopher Luxon, Prime Minister of New Zealand, and Hon Mark Mitchell, Minister for Ethnic Communities, addressed the gathering. They paid tribute to the matryrs and survivors of the attacks, reaffirming New Zealand's commitment to diversity, unity, and peace. Both leaders praised the Muslim community for their ongoing efforts to promote education, inclusivity, and cross-community connections.
Our Chief Executive Mervin Singham engaged with community leaders, including the Unity Week organisers, to discuss the Ministry's support for initiatives like Unity Week, which aim to foster participation and social cohesion.
Saturday, 15 March: Remembering March 15 Event in Wellington
At the same time, in Wellington, our Deputy Chief Executive for Strategic Engagement and Stakeholder Insights, Malcolm Foo, attended the Remembering March 15 event hosted by Ekta New Zealand. Participants reflected on the tragic events and recommitted to building a more socially cohesive future. Following the event, Ekta New Zealand continued their regular weekly service by distributing 200 cooked meals and groceries to Wellingtonians in need.
Sunday, 16 March: 'Heavenly Papa Giraffe' book launch in Christchurch
On Sunday, 16 March, our Engagement Specialist Hisham Eldai attended the launch of the children's book 'Heavenly Papa Giraffe' in Christchurch on behalf of the Ministry. Written by Dr. Maysoon Salama, the book is inspired by her personal loss during the terror attacks.
Dr. Salama aims to instill values of love, peace, unity, and understanding in children from an early age. The Ethnic Communities Development Fund (ECDF) proudly supported this initiative.
Those remembrance events served as a heartful reminder of the tragic attacks of March 15, 2019. They also reinforced the collective commitment to creating a safe, respectful, and inclusive society for all New Zealanders.
