The Samoan Assembly of God Congregation sang to over 100 Marton community members who attended a memorial for those who died in the Christchurch mosque shootings. Photo / Bevan Conley
The Samoan Assembly of God Congregation sang to over 100 Marton community members who attended a memorial for those who died in the Christchurch mosque shootings. Photo / Bevan Conley
An estimated 150 people showed up to Marton Park at 1pm on Saturday to remember those who lost their lives in the Christchurch mosque shootings.
The event was called Marton For Christchurch and opened with a karakia by Rangitikei District Council iwi adviser Lequan Meihana.
Speeches at the event weremade by Rangitikei District mayor Andy Watson, the Labour Party's Heather Warren, Multicultural Council of Rangitīkei/Whanganui president Vijeshwar Prasad and Reverend Robin Pierce.
The event was organised by Marton locals Sandra Field and Belinda Howard.
Howard said they decided to host the memorial after seeing people clearly wanted something to be done through Marton community Facebook pages.
"There were some singers and some speakers and it was just a chance for people to reflect on what happened and to be together," she said.
"It was lovely. We had no idea how many people would come, it is a small town. But it didn't matter if only half a dozen turned up. If it was worthwhile to them, it was worth doing."
The memorial finished at 3pm and the Marton community members were sung out of the park by the Samoan Assembly of God Congregation.
