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PM: Christchurch attacker not welcome in NZ

Author
Newstalk ZB ,
Publish Date
Sun, 12 May 2019, 12:03PM
The Prime Minister has confirmed that there will be extra resources in Christchurch for mental health services. (Photo / AP)

PM: Christchurch attacker not welcome in NZ

Author
Newstalk ZB ,
Publish Date
Sun, 12 May 2019, 12:03PM

Jacinda Ardern has confirmed that there will be additional support and funding for mental health services in Christchurch. 

The Prime Minister has told Chris Lynch that they are making extra staff available to deal with mental health concerns. 

"Anyone who just needs to talk, you don't have to be connected this incident, just anyone who needs any support, 1737 you can text or you can call." 

She says other DHBs have offered their support and resources. 

Ardern says that Christchurch has gone through such huge trauma, and this has added another layer. She wants Christchurch to know that the accused was a resident of Dunedin and was not one of theirs. 

"He's travelled widely internationally. He spent sporadic periods of time in New Zealand. At the time of this attack, he was not a resident in Christchurch. He is not based there, he is not from there."

She says that this was someone who did not call New Zealand home, and nor would they be welcomed here. 

Ardern will arrive in Christchurch today with other party leaders as a show of unity. 

The accused was not on a watchlist. Ardern says there are questions to have been answered about whether there is anything that authorities missed about the attacker. 

"Those are questions I have asked of agencies." 

He did acquire a gun license in late 2017. The Prime Minister says the Government will be looking into how he was able to obtain the weapons he used. 

"The weapons in his possession for the including two semi-automatic weapons, two rifles and one other. I think people will question why an individual would have need or access to a semi-automatic weapon." 

Ardern describes his manifesto as something New Zealanders from all walks of life would reject. 

A number of world leaders have called her to offer their support, including US President Donald Trump. 

"He offered the assistance of the [US] Government and asked if there was anything we may require, and my message was love and support for the Muslim community." 

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