Rotorua Daily Post
  • Rotorua Daily Post home
  • Latest news
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Sport
  • Video
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Residential property listings
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
  • Rural
  • Sport

Locations

  • Tauranga
  • Te Puke
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Tokoroa
  • Taupō & Tūrangi

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales

Weather

  • Rotorua
  • Tauranga
  • Whakatāne
  • Tokoroa
  • Taupō

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Rotorua Daily Post

Coronavirus: Rotorua remembrance service for Christchurch mosque shootings cancelled

Rotorua Daily Post
14 Mar, 2020 02:35 AM4 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Dr Margriet Theron, president of the Rotorua Multicultural Council. Photo/File.

Dr Margriet Theron, president of the Rotorua Multicultural Council. Photo/File.

A Rotorua remembrance service marking the first anniversary of the Christchurch mosque attacks has been cancelled amid safety fears over Covid-19.

The event, organised by the Rotorua Islamic Association with support from the Rotorua Multicultural Council, was to be held at Rotorua Girls' High School at 1.15pm tomorrow.

Dr Margriet Theron, president of the Rotorua Multicultural Council, said the decision to cancel the event was made after today's announcement of the cancellation of the national remembrance service in Christchurch.

READ MORE:
• Coronavirus: Donald Trump declares national emergency; travel restrictions to New Zealand set to be imposed by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern
• Coronavirus latest updates and essential information
• Coronavirus: British comedian Russell Brand cancels New Zealand tour

Dr Theron said it was disappointing the event, which was to be inter-denominational and similar to a vigil held last year- had to be cancelled but the health risks associated with Covid-19 had to be considered.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

She said someone would be present at the school tomorrow to advise people the service had been cancelled.

She hoped people would take time on Sunday to remember the tragic event in their own way.

The national remembrance service in Christchurch - which was to be held at Horncastle Arena in Christchurch - was expected to attract a large crowd, with many travelling from around New Zealand and from overseas.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said while there was no "community transmission" of Covid-19, the Government was taking a precautionary approach.

"This is a pragmatic decision. We're very saddened to cancel, but in remembering such a terrible tragedy, we shouldn't create the risk of further harm being done.

"The advice we received for this event, is that based on people travelling from different parts of the country and from overseas if there was a case it could be difficult to trace those who had come into contact with that person, so we are taking a cautious approach.

"March 15 now becomes an opportunity for every New Zealander to reflect in their own way on the events of a year ago.

Discover more

'Keep calm, look out for one another': Mayor encourages commonsense after travel restrictions announced

15 Mar 04:00 PM

Rotorua schools working on Covid-19 prevention with Ministry

16 Mar 04:00 PM

Te Hui Ahurei a Tūhoe biannual festival cancelled

16 Mar 06:16 AM

Taupō's Iron Maori event cancelled due to Covid-19 concerns

16 Mar 05:39 PM

"I encourage everyone to take time on Sunday to remember and to recommit to the values of inclusion and love demonstrated so clearly a year ago."

Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel said the decision was made to cancel the event given the rapidly changing environment around Covid-19.

"Tomorrow, we can still reflect on the incredible ways the community came together in response to the events of that tragic day, and think of ways that we can build on the compassion and unity that was so poignantly shown in our city, across the country and throughout the world."

Auckland's March 15 remembrance event has also been cancelled, mayor Phil Goff said.

"The decision has the support of the leaders of the Muslim community in Auckland and Government and is consistent with the decision made to cancel the National Remembrance Service in Christchurch," Goff said.

"It is with great regret that we are cancelling tomorrow's memorial event in Auckland. This is not a decision that we have made lightly but it is the right thing to do in light of decision taken in Christchurch.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"I have spoken with Muslim community leaders in Auckland and they have expressed their view to me that public health and safety is the most important consideration. Tomorrow we will hold in our hearts those who perished a year ago in the terrorist attack in Christchurch. The best way we can honour their memory is to continue to build a multicultural community that celebrates its diversity."

New Zealand Muslim Association President Ikhlaq Kashkari said the community fully supported the decision to cancel.

"The health of our whole community has to be the priority right now so we completely understand and respect the decision not to proceed with the event. We called this event Stronger Together and we will continue to work with all of our diverse community to ensure we can continue to build a more cohesive community here in Auckland and elsewhere in New Zealand."

- Additional reporting, NZME

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Rotorua Daily Post

Rotorua Daily Post

Bike racks back for Rotorua buses, Tauranga's a month away

02 Jul 11:55 AM
Rotorua Daily Post

Popular Waikato walkway fully reopens after major upgrade

02 Jul 05:00 AM
Rotorua Daily Post

Wet, wet, wet: Rain warning for BoP as more tropical weather looms

01 Jul 11:38 PM

There’s more to Hawai‘i than beaches and buffets – here’s how to see it differently

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Rotorua Daily Post

Bike racks back for Rotorua buses, Tauranga's a month away

Bike racks back for Rotorua buses, Tauranga's a month away

02 Jul 11:55 AM

BoP public buses are being modified after national concerns over night-driving visibility.

Popular Waikato walkway fully reopens after major upgrade

Popular Waikato walkway fully reopens after major upgrade

02 Jul 05:00 AM
Wet, wet, wet: Rain warning for BoP as more tropical weather looms

Wet, wet, wet: Rain warning for BoP as more tropical weather looms

01 Jul 11:38 PM
Road reopens after person hit by truck

Road reopens after person hit by truck

01 Jul 11:24 PM
From early mornings to easy living
sponsored

From early mornings to easy living

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Rotorua Daily Post e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Rotorua Daily Post
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP