A Fuller View of the Tributes to the Victims of the Christchurch Terrorist Attacks

by Scotty Hoaglinsen

I wanted to share some photos from one of the memorial areas set up in Christchurch. It is a fence at the border of the Christchurch Botanical Gardens, and the flowers and tributes go on for about 4 blocks. My husband Noel decided, on our way home from work, that we’d stop and see it on Wednesday. These are the photos we took, and I wanted to share the love, grief, and care shown with you all so those of you who can’t be here can see it. It was a beautiful autumn day, and the perfume of the flowers was stunning. Kia kaha and tēnā koutou katoa.

Floral tributes and signs and a chain of paper humans holding hands on a fence in the Christchurch Botanical Gardens. The main sign is an illustration of Prime Minister Jacinda Adern hugging a woman in a hijab with the words, "New Zealand is their home. They are us."
Floral tributes for the victims of the Christchurch terrorist attacks
Floral tributes for the victims of the Christchurch terrorist attacks. A child's drawing sits in the middle of many bouquets.
People looking at the massive amount of floral tributes on the ground against the fence at the Christchurch Botanical Gardens for the victims of the Christchurch terrorist attacks.
Several floral tributes for the victims of the Christchurch Terrorist Attacks with a card in the middle saying, "Hate cannot flourish where love grows."
Two candles burn vigil for the victims of the Christchurch terrorist attack. Next to the candles is a glass Kiwi bird taped to the top of a stand. On the stand, someone has written: "We are all one. God is Love, not evil."
Many floral tributes for the victims of the Christchurch terrorist attacks, with small statues of angels and a teddy bear. A Maori carving sits in the middle with the words, "Love thy neighbour and thyself. Kia kaha Christchurch. We stand as one," handwritten on it.
Three high school students write a note on a tribute board surrounded by floral tributes for the victims of the Christchurch terrorist attacks
One board with red Post-It notes arranged in a heart shape with messages on it next to another board with other Post-It notes with more messages on it for the victims of the Christchurch terrorist attacks
Fence in the Christchurch Botanical Gardens with a chain of paper humans standing holding hands for the victims of the Christchurch terrorist attacks
A fluorescent vest for AMT Mechanical Services with the name "Zakaria" and a heart drawn next to it on the back. Messages from his co-workers are written on the back. The vest hangs on a fence at the Christchurch Botanical Gardens. Zakaria was one of the 51 victims of the Christchurch terrorist attacks on mosques on 15 March 2019
Signs and decorations adorn the gates to the Christchurch Botanical Gardens. One reads, "Islamophobia will not be tolerated. We are all just humans." These are signs and tributes to the victims of the Christchurch terrorists attacks.
A lone stone sits at the base of a tree. Painted on it are two hearts with the words, "Hope. Faith. Love" for the victims of the Christchurch terrorist attacks.
An image taken from inside the Christchurch Botanical Gardens showing the many people lined up to pay tribute to the victims of the Christchurch terrorist attacks.
People walk past and pay tribute to the victims of the Christchurch terrorist attacks. There are a deep row of flowers as far as the eye can see pressed up against the fence of the Christchurch Botanical Gardens.
Floral tributes and signs and a chain of paper humans holding hands on a fence in the Christchurch Botanical Gardens. The main sign is an illustration of Prime Minister Jacinda Adern hugging a woman in a hijab with the words, "New Zealand is their home. They are us."
Floral tributes and signs and a chain of paper humans holding hands on a fence in the Christchurch Botanical Gardens. The main sign is an illustration of Prime Minister Jacinda Adern hugging a woman in a hijab with the words, "New Zealand is their home. They are us."
Categories: Culture, Equal Rights, Friendship, Life in Christchurch, Life in General, Life in New Zealand, Photography, ReligionTags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,