Christchurch remembrance service cancelled due to coronavirus

By Olivana Smith Lathouris

New Zealand's Remembrance Service marking the first anniversary of the Christchurch mosque attacks has been cancelled due to coronavirus.

The Christchurch city council has today announced the event, which was to be held at Horncastle Arena in Christchurch, will be called off as a "precautionary approach" to the spread of COVID-19.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern embraces a mourning woman in the wake of the Christchurch massacre. (Getty)

"This is a pragmatic decision. We're very saddened to cancel, but in remembering such a terrible tragedy, we shouldn't create the risk of further harm being done," said Prime Minister Jacinta Ardern in a statement on the council's website.

"The advice we received for this event, is that based on people travelling from different parts of the country and from overseas, if there was a case it could be difficult to trace those who had come into contact with that person, so we are taking a cautious approach," she said.

An estimated 20,000 people turned out at Hagley Park for the National Remembrance Service to those who were tragically killed in the Al Noor Mosque and the Linwood Islamic Centre shooting in Christchurch, New Zealand, Friday, March 29, 2019. (AAP Image/Martin Hunter) NO ARCHIVING (AAP)

Mourners lay flowers on a wall at the Botanical Gardens in Christchurch, New Zealand. (AP)

"I encourage everyone to take time on Sunday to remember and to recommit to the values of inclusion and love demonstrated so clearly a year ago."

The event was expected to attract hundreds of people travelling from around New Zealand and overseas.

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