Christchurch shooting: All Blacks star Beauden Barrett calls for NZ sportspeople to speak out

Hurricanes Beauden Barrett looks on during the round five Super Rugby match between the Chiefs and the Hurricanes. Photo / Getty Images.

All Blacks star Beauden Barrett has encouraged other Kiwi sportspeople to speak out and show their support for the Muslim community, after last week's Christchurch mosque shootings.

Hurricanes team-mate TJ Perenara has been vocal and visible with his feelings since the tragedy, imploring the public to back local Muslims in a heartfelt Instagram post.

Now Barrett has backed him up.

"We all support TJ and what he's saying 100 per cent, so just because we don't speak out doesn't mean we're not feeling those ways," he told media in Wellington today.

"But what's evident is that it's important to speak out and for those people in the Muslim community, to let them know this is their home, and we're 100 per cent supportive of them and their families.

"They're just a part of us, essentially, and [we must do] whatever we can do to help and ensure that they're happy here living in New Zealand."

Barrett said sport can help guide the country through these difficult times.

"Not only from an entertainment point of view," he said. "I think it's important to continue entertaining people, but also be positive and portray positive messages, and just be vulnerable - I think that's the key message.

"Be vulnerable to speak out, to talk to each other, no matter what background or where you're from.

"A lot can be learnt from this, but it's such a shame that something like this has to happen, before we open up."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Tj Perenara (@tj_perenara)

Barret said the Hurricanes are still coming to terms with what happened last week and struggled to play the Chiefs just hours later.

"Yes, we're still hurting - we're still affected by what's happening and what's happened.

"I think the biggest learning is being able to talk to one another off the field. That's what we've taken from it."