Floral tributes and messages of support 'lovingly' removed from Tauranga Mosque

Hundreds of floral tributes, cards, tokens and letters of support have been removed from the front of the Tauranga Mosque. Photo /file

Hundreds of floral tributes and messages of support left outside the Tauranga Mosque after the terror attacks in Christchurch were "lovingly" removed last night.

A Tauranga City Council spokeswoman said flowers, cards, notes, letters and tokens of support left by the public outside the mosque in 18th Ave were "lovingly removed" last night with the help of the council.

"All of the flowers and plants which were past their prime will be composted and redistributed to orchards around the Bay of Plenty region", the spokeswoman said.

Cards, notes, letters and tokens left by the public were returned to the mosque

Tauranga Mosque has erected a thank you banner on the gate of the mosque to acknowledge the support and love shown by the Tauranga community, she said.

After the news of the shootings at the two Christchurch mosques on March 15 broke, people dropped off hundreds of flowers and messages at the Tauranga Mosque to show their support and express their condolences.

Some of the messages read: "United we stand with you", "We are one community, we will not be divided" and "We are so sorry".

Vigils, touching tributes, condolences books and moments of silence were some of the other ways Tauranga showed its support for Christchurch and grief for the 50 lives lost.

Another 39 people were injured during the shootings.

A 28-year-old Australian national faces 50 charges of murder and 39 of attempted murder.