Vigil held for Paris shooting victims in Aotea Square

More than 100 people have turned out to a vigil at Aotea Square in downtown Auckland paying tribute to those killed in the French shooting this week.

Many waved the French flag and held up makeshift signs reading: ''Freedom'' and "Je Suis Charlie'' - remembering the 12 people killed by terrorists in the offices of the Charlie Hebdo magazine in Paris.

Those in the crowd - the majority of them French expats - hugged each other, cried together and sang the national anthem loudly.

A minute's silence was observed and a unique salute - with everyone holding up pens to the sky - was carried out.