Otumoetai College's daisy chain of support for Christchurch shooting victims

Messages of support and love for those affected by the Christchurch shootings written on 1800 strips of coloured paper formed a huge daisy chain at Otumoetai College yesterday. The daisy chain of 1800 messages from students was draped along a fence looking out towards the school field.

One student had written: "My love and support goes out to all our Muslim whanau."

Others said "Kia Kaha Christchurch" and "They are us. This is not New Zealand - Stand Strong against Hate."

Otumoetai College students Alex Blair, (from left), Grace Blissett, vice principal Bruce Farthing, and students Makayla Wadsworth and Kristian Reid in front of the daisy chain. Photo /George Novak

The idea to create the huge daisy chain came from Year 13 student Grace Blissett and her parents and they began cutting up strips of coloured paper to hand out to students.

Grace said similar memorials has been created elsewhere in the country. She thought it was a great idea and pitched the idea to principal Russell Gordon.

Each student at the college was given a strip of the coloured paper and asked to record their own private thoughts about the shootings, she said.

Grace said she and her fellow students were badly affected by the shootings in Christchurch.

"Everybody was feeling a little bit lost and speechless but we also felt we wanted to do something. One thing we decided we could do was to record our messages of support and love to the victims and their families and the whole community of Christchurch."

Year 13 student Kristian Reid said: "We also wanted to send the clear message that we'll not let these shootings define New Zealand and love will always conquer over hate."

Creating the colourful daisy chain also coincided with the school's annual house colours celebrations, for which students dress in their house colours to mark the start of the school year.

On Friday the college is also holding an international food fiesta and students had been asked to make a donation for Christchurch.

Principal Russell Gordon said the daisy chain was another way for the 1800 students to "add their voices" to the outpouring of grief and support to all those affected by the terror attacks.

Blissett said the daisy chain would stay on the fence until it rained or possibly would be taken to one of the local mosques.