Surprise funding to investigate memorial options for Christchurch mosque attacks

For Christchurch city councillor and member of the March 15th Whānau Trust, Tyla Harrison-Hunt, government funding was not expected.

It comes after the coalition government binned 8 out of 44 recommendations made by the Royal Commission of Inquiry last August. These included strengthening hate speech laws and establishing a national intelligence and security agency.

"That was a really big disappointment to the community around those recommendations because they were quite distinct and quite achievable," says the councillor.

"It's really heartening to know that there is funding applied to that because we were really worried that there was going to be that funding cut."

With this funding, he'd like to see a physical memorial built. He says while the road to get to this stage has been slow, a strong steer from central government could get something completed in 2 years.

"All we really need is a concept which is community-led, and then a location…It'll take a lot of discussion about the appropriate location for this.

"Somewhere central, somewhere accessible and something that acknowledges the families in a beautiful way.

"Like the earthquake memorial…something similar to that would be really nice."

The funding has come from a reprioritised $7.29 million from the National Fale Malae project in Wellington, split six ways to fund new initiatives and cost pressures in the arts and culture sector.

Manatū Taonga Ministry of Culture and Heritage has been allocated the funds and will direct this process. 

"The Ministry will work closely with Ministry for Ethnic Communities and Christchurch City Council to engage with the Muslim community in Christchurch on legacy options to commemorate the 2019 mosque attacks so that any options reflect their views," Acting Deputy Secretary, Blaire Lodge-Perry says.

Councillor Harrington-Hunt's uncle is survivor of the attacks, Farid Ahmed.

On March 15th this year, Metro News spoke with Ahmed, at his personal, tight-knit service to honour the 51 people killed six years ago at the two mosques.

He wished for that day to become a 'day of compassion' for New Zealanders.

"Compassion was the true thing," he said.

"If we deny the compassion that had taken place on that day and after…then we would not appreciate the truth.

"We are divided for our ethnicity, for our economic interest, for our religion, faith….but only one thing can unite us, and that is compassion."

Harrison-Hunt says what his uncle is pushing for is "really important".

"They don't like opening up old wounds too much, and that’s the thing I've recognised with many of the families, not all of them, because…there are so many diverse voices that need to be taken into account.

"A commemoration or acknowledgement would be really important for not only just the families, but the city of Christchurch to remember to be compassionate."

Manatū Taonga Ministry of Culture and Heritage says, "no decisions have been made about what legacy options could include or exclude. Once we have engaged with affected communities and key stakeholders, we will determine next steps."