Rotorua residents feeling heartbroken for the victims of the Paris terror attacks have left flowers on the steps of the city's local French cafe.
Yesterday afternoon Valerie Janin, owner of Le Cafe de Paris where members of the French community like to meet, stopped by her cafe on her day off because people had left some flowers and a card at the door.
"It's quite brutal, we are watching the news. I keep in touch with people through Facebook. So far everyone I know is okay," Mrs Janin said.
When the Rotorua Daily Post went to catch up with Mrs Janin an American woman walked into the closed cafe and embraced Mrs Janin.
She said, "I know you are closed, but I just wanted to let you know my thoughts and prayers are with you."
Mrs Janin said this had happened a lot since the terror attacks.
"There has been a lot of compassion from everyone.
"In the news there are so many dead people and they still don't know who they are. We are very heartbroken to see the impact on families who have lost loved ones and it is very sad for the French community.
"It's a worldwide drama. It's very hard for everyone."
Even though we are so far from France our hearts are still there.
"All of us are concerned and very sad for the families that have lost loved ones.
"I don't know what to say. It's not just because we are French, it could have been anywhere in the world.
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"It's like another 9/11."
Rotorua MP Todd McClay who had lived in Europe for more than 15 years was horrified by the event.
"This is an horrific and barbaric act of terrorism and a horrible waste of life. I have many French friends, my thoughts are with them during this difficult time.
"These acts are designed to illicit fear. They challenge the fundamentals of our society - freedom and liberty. They are senseless and cannot be allowed to prevail."
Rotorua resident Nicola Hay, 24, lived and worked in Paris as a nanny from August 2009 till February 2010.
She said a lot of her friends were using Facebook to check in but she was still concerned for the family she used to nanny for as she had not been in contact with them.
"My heart goes out to the people of Paris, no one deserves anything like this."
- Additional reporting Matthew Martin