Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says allegations of migrant exploitation involving Green Party MP Darleen Tana are “messy”.

“It’s a bit messy, but it’s an issue for the Greens,” Luxon told reporters in Christchurch today.

“Those are all issues for them,” he said when asked if the Green Party should have acted faster regarding Tana, who has been suspended as an Employment Relations Authority investigation into her husband’s bicycle business proceeds.

Luxon is with Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins after expressing their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. 

Luxon and Collins are visiting the city today, five years after an Australian terrorist stormed Al Noor Mosque and Linwood Islamic City and murdered 51 people during Friday prayer. 

He told reporters he had “good conversations” with survivors’ families on a range of issues, but said he would keep those private.

The focus of the conversations was about what support had been given to them in the five years since the attack and what families might need in the following five years.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins are in Christchurch today on the anniversary of the mosque terror attacks. Photo / George Heard 

Luxon wouldn’t say whether the Government’s proposed review of firearms legislation was a topic discussed with survivors’ families. He assured there would be “no new guns” allowed into New Zealand as a result of the legislation rewrite.

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“There’s a lot of gendered hate,” Luxon said when asked about what people received the most hate. He added the topic of hate speech was discussed with families and Luxon wanted to build more awareness of the Islamic community in New Zealand.

Luxon said the previous Labour government struggled to introduce specific hate speech legislation but he added the idea of “hate reassurance” was important to him as it would allow people to report incidents to police.

“Hate speech is not high on our agenda,” he said.

Collins said 23 of the 44 recommendations from the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the terror attack had been completed. Eight were currently progressing and there were 15 which required ministerial decisions to be made.

Collins said the first meeting of a group of ministers tasked with assessing the remaining recommendations would occur next month.

Luxon hadn’t discussed reparations with the families, with Collins adding it needed to be clear that under ACC and the welfare system, there are processes used to compensate and support people.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon met with St John staff. Photo / George Heard

The Prime Minister and Collins visited St John at a city centre depot at lunchtime today and met with first responders.

“March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Luxon said.

“Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada – the martyrs who were unjustly targeted for their beliefs, and to those who were injured. 

“We remember the great courage and compassion from our Muslim community, that continues to this day. 

“We pay tribute to everyone across both New Zealand and internationally who rallied together to provide comfort and support in this time of need.” 

People in New Zealand should be able to go about their lives without fear, Collins added. 

“We will ensure we’ve learnt the lessons from the Royal Commission of Inquiry and made the necessary changes,” she said. 

“The Government is committed to keeping all New Zealanders safe and secure.”