The Prime Minister spoke at the Islamic Women's Council national conference at the Zayed College for Girls in Mangere today.
Video / Michael Craig
The March 15 mosque attacks are at the forefront of the Islamic Women's Council national conference.
This morning's session at the Zayed College for Girls in Auckland's Mangere, opened with a reflection on the tough year for the Islamic community.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told the crowd of about 250the past months have been exhausting - because the community's still picking up the pieces five months on.
The March 15 mosque attacks are at the forefront of the conference. Photo / Michael Craig
She promised to help workshop aspiring Muslim leaders in politics.
Responding to a question about how the Muslim community can rise to leadership positions, Ardern said she'd like to unite them with local and central government.
"I would love for us to create a forum where we can spend some time together, as politicians and women with those who are interested in taking on leadership roles."
She asked the conference who was interested - and an uproar of applause broke out.
A Muslim women's rights advocate in Malaysia told the Thompson Reuters Foundation: "I wish she hadn't (wore it)"... She is not a Muslim and not from a Muslim majority country."
Ardern told the crowd the past months have been exhausting. Photo / Michael Craig
Former Housewives of Auckland reality TV star Gilda Kirkpatrick railed on Twitter against it.
Fifty-one people died and 49 were injured in the attacks which began at the Al Noor Mosque in the Christchurch suburb of Riccarton and continued at the Linwood Islamic Centre.
The alleged gunman live-streamed the first attack.
A member of the crowd takes the Prime Minister's photograph. photo / Michael Craig
