Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and New Zealand’s High Commissioner to Fiji, Jonathan Curr

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama says horrendous attacks like the one in Christchurch, New Zealand can happen anywhere.

50 innocent people were murdered last Friday in this attack.

He says we must be aware that acts of extreme violence often begin in the form of hateful words and divisive ways of thinking. 

“But it can happen anywhere, we found out that it can happen in New Zealand where we least expected, so it can happen anywhere.”

The Prime Minister is urging Fijians to speak up against racism and hatred and that to remain silent would be an injustice to the victims of the Christchurch massacre.

Meanwhile, New Zealand’s High Commissioner to Fiji, Jonathan Curr says this is a tragedy that both countries share and one that will make us stronger moving past it.

“When New Zealand and Fiji speak about being family, these are not empty words.  Tragedies like this demonstrate their truth, Vinaka, Vinaka Vakalevu to the Prime Minister, to members of his government and to all Fijians.  Your support means the world to us as we grapple with what has happened in Aotearoa, New Zealand.  New Zealanders of all faiths and ethnicities are in deep shock over what has taken place in Christchurch.  We are still trying to make sense of it all.”

The death toll from the Christchurch terrorist attack currently stands at 50 with 34 in hospital, 12 of whom are believed to still be critical.