New Zealand Woman’s Weekly 1914

Last Thursday night I had dinner with two of my closest friends. One of them had recently come back fr om a trip to Thailand with her parents to revisit a refugee camp, not far from the Cambodian border, where she was born and spent the first year of her life. It was an emotional conversation as she shared some of the stories her parents had told her , including glimpses of the horrors they endured to get to the camp, as well as their moment of true joy when a Red Cross worker told them there was space for them on a flight heading to New Zealand. They arrived her e with just the clothes on their backs, but were given shelter , medical checkups, clothes to wear ,…

Last Thursday night I had dinner with two of my closest friends. One of them had recently come back fr om a trip to Thailand with her parents to revisit a refugee camp, not far from the Cambodian border, where she was born and spent the first year of her life. It was an emotional conversation as she shared some of the stories her parents had told her , including glimpses of the horrors they endured to get to the camp, as well as their moment of true joy when a Red Cross worker told them there was space for them on a flight heading to New Zealand. They arrived her e with just the clothes on their backs, but were given shelter , medical checkups, clothes to wear , English classes…

It truly was, as Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says, the darkest of New Zealand’s days. But the country’s response to the terror attacks on two Christchurch mosques, that claimed 50 lives, has shone a light on the compassion and kindness of Kiwis, and our determination that our country should be a peaceful, safe nation for people of all races and religions. From emotional and spine-tingling haka performances by everyone from school students to gang members, through to strangers joining forces to stand guard outside mosques during prayers, New Zealanders from all backgrounds have rallied around to show support for our Muslim community. Hundreds of thousands of people around the country have attended vigils, lighting candles and saying prayers for those who lost their lives. They’ve laid flowers outside mosques, supplied…

It truly was, as Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says, the darkest of New Zealand’s days. But the country’s response to the terror attacks on two Christchurch mosques, that claimed 50 lives, has shone a light on the compassion and kindness of Kiwis, and our determination that our country should be a peaceful, safe nation for people of all races and religions. From emotional and spine-tingling haka performances by everyone from school students to gang members, through to strangers joining forces to stand guard outside mosques during prayers, New Zealanders from all backgrounds have rallied around to show support for our Muslim community. Hundreds of thousands of people around the country have attended vigils, lighting candles and saying prayers for those who lost their lives. They’ve laid flowers outside mosques, supplied home-cooked meals…

With flowers spilling over footpaths outside mosques and vigils continuing for a second week throughout the country, New Zealand’s Muslim women are urging Kiwis to embrace people of all beliefs in the wake of the tragedy. The outpouring of affection continues to flow into the grieving Muslim community. Close to Christchurch Hospital, a sea of flowers lies at the base of the wall beside the Botanic Gardens’ Peacock Fountain, and footpaths and fences outside mosques throughout the country are festooned with flowers, cards and notes expressing the public’s sadness over the brutal attack. The support at such a bleak time is heartening, says Islamic Women’s Council of New Zealand spokeswoman Anjum Rahman. “It’s amazing. It’s needed and it’s very much appreciated. It has sustained our community, and given us strength…

With flowers spilling over footpaths outside mosques and vigils continuing for a second week throughout the country, New Zealand’s Muslim women are urging Kiwis to embrace people of all beliefs in the wake of the tragedy. The outpouring of affection continues to flow into the grieving Muslim community. Close to Christchurch Hospital, a sea of flowers lies at the base of the wall beside the Botanic Gardens’ Peacock Fountain, and footpaths and fences outside mosques throughout the country are festooned with flowers, cards and notes expressing the public’s sadness over the brutal attack. The support at such a bleak time is heartening, says Islamic Women’s Council of New Zealand spokeswoman Anjum Rahman. “It’s amazing. It’s needed and it’s very much appreciated. It has sustained our community, and given us strength and comfort,”she tells the…