Christchurch Mosque Shootings - How you can help

On Friday 15 March 2019, 50 lives were tragically lost and many others were injured in a senseless and despicable act. The lives of those impacted by these events have been changed forever and they will need help to rebuild themselves.

New Zealanders have been incredibly generous but help is still needed. Apart from monetary support, there are more concrete ways of showing support such as volunteering, providing care packages and even making healing heart quilts for all victims and first responders.

Here are some ideas on how we can help the injured and those who have lost loved ones. We will add to this page as more suggestions are sent to us. 

This page includes:

• Donating money;
• Non-monetary gifts including donating time or activities;
• Information on ACC support to share; and
• Other help and support, such as mental health support.

Donation to charities:

• The New Zealand Islamic Information Centre (NZIIC) has set up a crowdfunding campaign on Launchgood with all funds raised distributed to the victims and families affected by the Christchurch attack
• The New Zealand Council of Victim Support Groups has also set up a crowdfunding campaign on Givealittle for victims of the Christchurch attack.
• The Al Manar trust has launched an emergency appeal for victims of the Christchurch attack.
• Christchurch Resettlement Services supports refugee background families with 3 services: Bilingual Community Work, Social Work and English language classes, with childcare support. CRS also provides health promotion, counselling, and support to earthquake impacted homeowners. In addition, CRS contributes Lead Professional time to the Canterbury Children’s Team.
• St John Ambulance Service is a charity. It relies on donations and volunteers to deliver its services to the New Zealanders who need them: go here to donate.
• Mayor's Welfare Fund (Christchurch):  The Mayor's Welfare Fund was established in 1897 as the 'Mayor's Coal and Blanket Fund'. The Fund provides assistance to families and individuals in Christchurch’s community who are in extreme financial distress.  If you wish to make a donation to this charitable trust, please email: mayorswelfarefund@ccc.govt.nz 
• The Christchurch Foundation:  At the Mayor's request, the Christchurch Foundation - NZ has established a new fund to help raise money for the ongoing support of the families and Muslim communities impacted by Friday's tragic events.  The fund is called Our People, Our City.  Anyone wishing to contribute to the fund can do so at any TSB branch or by bank transfer to the Foundation’s bank account - The Christchurch Foundation 15-3976-0091104-80
• NZ Red Cross:  a donation helps support people in Christchurch following the tragic events of 15 March 2019 and beyond. Red Cross was there helping on the ground directly after the tragedy occurred, providing psychological support. Red Cross will be there for the long term too.

Non-Monetary Donations

Pro Bono Legal Services

The Canterbury-Westland Branch of the New Zealand Law Society is compiling a list of those willing to offer pro bono legal services. We invite NZBA members willing to assist to complete the form and send it to NZLS.

Christchurch Gifts of Love and Strength for affected Families of Shooting 

During Canterbury and Kaikoura's darkest days, months and hours many who were greatly affected by the earthquakes received care packages frequently from New Zealand and abroad, it helped bring a smile and comfort on some of those really difficult times.  This charity has obtained warehouse space, freezers to do this, got lots of wonderful people acting as collection drop off points all over Canterbury, Wellington and Auckland.  This charity recommends the following:

• Non-perishable food items and household goods (vegan/halal practice) Only fresh food if it can be frozen.
• Pot Plants - flowers die but pot plants live forever
• Toiletries  
• Vouchers eg coffee, petrol, cell phone credit, meals, beauty/hair, activities to do as families, travel (holiday home use/ accommodation etc)
• Kids activities/books
• Cards and messages of hope, encouragement NOT sympathy as they mourn very differently from most cultures.
• And any other items that may be NZ made that if you received would bring you joy if you received it.

Collaborate for Christchurch

Interested in being more hands on with helping? Register your details and how you can help the victims of the shootings. This group keeps volunteers and community groups in touch.

Quilters Healing Hearts for Christchurch

Do you have a creative side and can sew? This group's goal is to make 50 quilts for the families who lost loved ones, 50 quilts for those that were injured, and quilts for the first responders, emergency services personnel, and those working to support those affected by the events in Christchurch.

Support from ACC

ACC support and entitlements are available for family members of those killed in Friday’s terrorist attack in Christchurch whether they live in New Zealand or overseas.

A funeral grant, a survivor’s grant for partners, and additional support for dependants, such as children, is available, irrespective of where they live.

The ACC scheme also covers those injured. It covers children, beneficiaries, students, if you’re working, unemployed or retired. It includes visitors to New Zealand if they're injured while they're here.

Whether you've been injured in the Christchurch attacks or have lost a loved one, ACC can help. 

Click here for more information about ACC.

Other help and support

Mental health advice for coping after a traumatic event

The Ministry of Health has developed two resources with txt 1737 to assist those in mental distress as a result of the traumatic event in Christchurch.  This resource is currently available in English, Arabic, Indonesian, Malay and Turkish. The Ministry is working to translate these documents into multiple languages and this page will be updated as translations become available.

If over the following days and weeks, distress or stress symptoms are escalating, or you feel you are not coping, early access to help and professional support is important. Your GP is a good starting point, or for support with grief, anxiety, distress or mental wellbeing, you can call or text 1737 – free, anytime, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – to talk it through with a trained counsellor.