NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
    • Cooking the Books
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

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 / New Zealand

Paris terror attacks - Kiwis describe the horror: 'It's pretty scary. I'm just trying to find a way to get home now'

NZ Herald
14 Nov, 2015 12:05 AM5 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

Police officers and rescue workers gather around a victim outside in the 10th district of Paris. Photo / AP
Police officers and rescue workers gather around a victim outside in the 10th district of Paris. Photo / AP

Police officers and rescue workers gather around a victim outside in the 10th district of Paris. Photo / AP

Kiwis in Paris have described their horror at seeing bodies in street as terrorists committed a series of coordinated attacks across the capital.

Auckland man, Duncan Sheffield, posted on Facebook page "New Zealanders in France" warning other Kiwis in Paris to stay indoors.

"Sent home by police as shooting happening at the end of our street, rue Bichat. 2 other shootings at Bataclan and near Bastille. Stay home & watch the news where it's safe. Gunmen are on the run," he wrote.

New Zealanders in Paris include the Prime Minister's daughter Stephi Key, and rugby payers including former All Blacks Chris Masoe, Joe Rokocoko and Casey Laulala.

Superstar All Black Dan Carter is moving to Paris this week after signing a three-year deal with French club Racing 92. His agent, Dean Hegan, said Carter had told him it was too early to know if his departure would be delayed.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"He's not making any decision till the facts are a little clearer. His thoughts are with the people of Paris."

Carter's father Neville said his son flies out of New Zealand on Thursday afternoon.
Carter's wife, Honor, and sons, two-and-a-half-year-old Marco and seven-month-old Fox, will travel with him.

"I think they're going to have a couple of days holidays on the way. That might be a blessing."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Neville Carter did not know where the family planned to holiday on their way to France.

Paris-based former All Black Joe Rokocoko, who is set to link with Dan Carter with Racing 92, has tweeted: "Prayers to those people in Paris and their families at this moment & courage to the Raid special force who took us for preseason this year."

University of Auckland student Apoorva Kolluru heard shooting and saw bodies in the street after one of the attacks took place near her apartment in Rue Oberkampf.

Kolluru, 21, moved to Paris in August as part of a semester-long university exchange programme.

Discover more

Football

Video: Explosions heard at football game

13 Nov 10:55 PM
World

France's deadliest day since WWII

14 Nov 05:04 AM
World

Touching hashtag emerges amid horror

14 Nov 01:38 AM

She was near the Petit Cambodge restaurant attack.

"I was very close by and I saw some of the bodies. There were seven or eight bodies and people had thrown sheets from their apartment windows to cover them up."

She hid in a creperie shop with the owner and an elderly couple, but was now trying to find somewhere to stay because she could not get to her apartment.

Kolluru, who is studying French and politics, said she was determined to stay in the city for the duration of her exchange.

She said she was safe, but worried and couldn't get home.

"It's pretty scary. I'm just trying to find a way to get home now. My apartment's really close to where the shootings were.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"There've been several shootings around the city. There was one close to where I was having dinner, and then while I was walking home, one close to where I live," Ms Kolluru added.

"Immediately everybody hoped that it was a car backfiring, or fireworks or something. But it turned out that there were shootings...they kicked everyone out of the restaurant.

Ms Kolluru, of Auckland, planned to use the Twitter hashtag "porteouverte" which meant "open door" in French.

In the wake of the deadly killings, the humanitarian gesture spreading on social media aimed to give stranded people a place to stay for the night.

"We're just all trying to get home. Every way for me to get home at the moment is blocked off or seems really unsafe by what I've read on the news."

Ms Kolluru was staying in the 11th Arrondisement with other New Zealanders.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Sirens could be heard in the background as Ms Kolluru explained the situation.

"There's a lot of ambulances and police at the moment."

She said the situation had calmed down slightly from an hour earlier.

"There was a lot of people running around and a lot of people screaming."

Ms Kolluru understood all her friends in Paris were safe, based on texts she'd received.

"People are just a bit worried about me now...I'm just figuring out how to get somewhere."
She shared her apartment with another New Zealander.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Ms Kolluru said her neighbourhood was filled with other students and young people.

'"There were a lot of people around."

She the spate of what appeared to be co-ordinated attacks suggested a terrorist attack, but she couldn't be certain.

"I looked up where the New Zealand Embassy was, but it was a bit too far away for me to walk there."

The Embassy is on rue de Grenelle, in the 7th Arrondissement.

A woman, who asked to remain anonymous for security reasons, said she was in his central Paris apartment when he heard police searching nearby buildings.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"We could hear lots of yelling outside and police sirens. We heard a man yell in French - "thé stairs!!" - it sounded like it was someone directing his men and it was right below us, so we were praying they wouldn't enter our building," [sic] he said.

"Generally Paris apartments have codes to the doors so not that easy to get in."

The woman said she was now focusing on checking with friends and family to see they were safe.

All Black great Bryan Williams told The Herald he was concerned for the safety of the family of his rugby-playing son, Paul.

Paul Williams is signed to Paris-based team Stade Francais.

While Paul and his team-mates were in the UK for a clash with English side Leicester, no one had been able to contact his wife in the French capital. The couple also have a young child.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"He will be really worried," Bryan Williams said.

"Where they live appears to be away from the trouble area, but with all the outbreaks you can't be sure.

"The closed the border now, so he won't be able to get back."

Kiwis in Paris are using the Facebook alert system to notify friends and family back home they are "safe during Paris Terror Attacks".

Save

    Share this article

Latest from New Zealand

New Zealand

Motorcycle taken from fatal crash scene, police seek public's help

27 May 07:15 PM
Herald NOW

Herald NOW Weather: May 28 2025

Herald NOW

Viral tackle game death and cuts to OCR expected | Herald NOW News Update

Gold demand soars amid global turmoil

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Recommended for you
Driver of Liverpool car which ploughed into crowd suspected of taking drugs
World

Driver of Liverpool car which ploughed into crowd suspected of taking drugs

27 May 07:06 PM
Watch: Melanie Lynskey and Robyn Malcolm in trailer for Pike River feature film
Entertainment

Watch: Melanie Lynskey and Robyn Malcolm in trailer for Pike River feature film

27 May 07:00 PM
Bank accused of using $1m scam victim’s hardship to dodge potential liability
New Zealand

Bank accused of using $1m scam victim’s hardship to dodge potential liability

27 May 07:00 PM
$380k raised crossing project paused to consider cheaper option
New Zealand

$380k raised crossing project paused to consider cheaper option

27 May 07:00 PM
Regional ratepayers to fund $3.58m loan for Tarawera Sewerage Scheme
Rotorua Daily Post

Regional ratepayers to fund $3.58m loan for Tarawera Sewerage Scheme

27 May 06:40 PM

Latest from New Zealand

Motorcycle taken from fatal crash scene, police seek public's help

Motorcycle taken from fatal crash scene, police seek public's help

27 May 07:15 PM

A 25-year-old man died. His motorbike was removed by a group of riders.

Herald NOW Weather: May 28 2025

Herald NOW Weather: May 28 2025

Viral tackle game death and cuts to OCR expected | Herald NOW News Update

Viral tackle game death and cuts to OCR expected | Herald NOW News Update

What will an OCR change mean for you? Liam Dann talks to Herald NOW

What will an OCR change mean for you? Liam Dann talks to Herald NOW

Explore the hidden gems of NSW
sponsored

Explore the hidden gems of NSW

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
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • What the Actual
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven CarGuide
  • 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
search by queryly Advanced Search