March 15, 2021, will mark two years since the Christchurch mosque attacks as thousands are expected to attend the National Remembrance Service to be hosted the preceding weekend.
People will come together at the National Remembrance Service to remember and honour those who died and build on the spirit of unity that came out of the tragedy.
Fifty-one people died as a result of the shootings at the Al Noor and Linwood mosques on March 15 2019, and many others were injured and traumatised.
To mark the second anniversary of the mosque attacks, a national remembrance service, Ko Tatou, Tatou We Are One, is being held at Christchurch Arena, on Saturday, March 13, starting at 3 p.m.
Last year’s National Remembrance Service to mark the first anniversary was cancelled due to COVID-19.
The programme for this year’s service has been based on what was planned for last year and was put together with input from those most affected by the attacks, including survivors and families of the victims.
Students from Burnside High School and Cashmere High School will perform music at the service. The two schools were heavily impacted by the mosque attacks.
Cashmere High School lost two current students and a past student in the attacks, and one student from Burnside High School died.
Local Muslim leaders, the Mayor and other dignitaries will also participate in the service, which the local Muslim community will jointly lead, Christchurch City Council, the Government and Ngai Tuahuriri as Mana Whenua.
The event is being held on March 13, rather than the actual anniversary, as it’s hoped having it on a weekend day will allow more people to attend.
The Remembrance Service will be live-streamed for people to view worldwide, particularly as COVID-19 border restrictions mean people from overseas will not be able to travel to Christchurch to attend the event.
The full order of service and further details will be revealed in the coming weeks.
Other March 15 commemorative events being held in the city will be listed on What’s On Christchurch as they are finalised.
Christchurch City Council has appealed the people wanting to leave tributes around the city to make sure the tributes are entirely compostable, with flowers left unwrapped, and any ties or attachments able to be composted in the interests of sustainability and minimising waste.