Tauranga woman Rebecca Grigson was shocked when she switched on her television early this morning.
News reports were showing scenes of carnage in her home country, England, in the aftermath of a Westminster Bridge terror attack. A man had driven a car through crowds of London pedestrians and attacked others with a knife. Four people were dead, and dozens more injured.
"It was heart-wrenching," Mrs Grigson said. "I was gutted."
She sent messages to friends back home, telling them that her thoughts were with them. But she also felt a sense of helplessness at being unable to do anything more constructive.
Mrs Grigson, who owns the English Pantry food shop in 10th Ave, emigrated to New Zealand 11 years ago. She had lived only an hour's train-ride from London on England's south coast.
"The number of times I've been over that bridge ..."
Mrs Grigson was especially upset to hear that a policeman had been killed in the attack, as she had worked as a volunteer constable in Hampshire.
Late this morning an English Pantry worker lowered an English flag in the store as plans were being made to lay flowers near the front door.
"I feel quite numb today," Mrs Grigson said.
"It makes you feel lucky about where you live now."