But with that memory comes a responsibility.
A responsibility to be the place that we wish to be.
A place that is diverse, that is welcoming, that is kind and compassionate. Those values represent the very best of us.
But even the ugliest of viruses can exist in places they are not welcome.
Racism exists, but it is not welcome here.
An assault on the freedom of any one of us who practices their faith or religion, is not welcome here.
Violence, and extremism in all its forms, is not welcome here.
And over the last two weeks we have shown that, you have shown that, in your actions.
From the thousands at vigils to the 95-year-old man who took four buses to attend a rally because he couldn’t sleep from the sadness of seeing the hurt and suffering of others.
Our challenge now is to make the very best of us, a daily reality.
Because we are not immune to the viruses of hate, of fear, of other. We never have been.
But we can be the nation that discovers the cure.
And so to each of us as we go from here, we have work to do, but do not leave the job of combating hate to the Government alone.
We each hold the power, in our words and in our actions, in our daily acts of kindness. Let that be the legacy of the 15th of March.
To be the nation we believe ourselves to be.
To the global community who have joined us today, who reached out to embrace New Zealand, and our Muslim community, to all of those who have gathered here today, we say thank you.
And we also ask that the condemnation of violence and terrorism turns now to a collective response. The world has been stuck in a vicious cycle of extremism breeding extremism and it must end.
We cannot confront these issues alone, none of us can. But the answer to them lies in a simple concept that is not bound by domestic borders, that isn’t based on ethnicity, power base or even forms of governance.
The answer lies in our humanity.
But for now, we will remember those who have left this place.
We will remember the first responders who gave so much of themselves to save others.
We will remember the tears of our nation, and the new resolve we have formed.
And we remember, that ours is a home that does not and cannot claim perfection. But we can strive to be true to the words embedded in our national anthem
Men of every creed and race,
Gather here before Thy face,
Asking Thee to bless this place
God defend our free land
From dissension, envy, hate
And corruption, guard our state
Make our country good and great
God Defend New Zealand
Tātou Tātou
Asalamu Aleykum
Note: The Prime Minister was wearing a kakahu provided by Ngai Tahu. It was the one Blair Tuke wore at the Rio 2016 Olympics as a flag bearer with Peter Burling. It can be worn by a man or a woman.
Editor's Note: One of the highlights of our trip to New Zealand was the invitation to eat in the home of a resident. If you go, don't overlook that possibility.
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