Many of the French people at the Dunedin vigil in support of the victims showed their emotion and voiced their anger.
Among the more than 100 people sobbing and hugging each other were French couple Paul Chameret (23), of Normandy, and Louise Ott (20), of Alsace.
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Mr Chameret, who is working as a dairy farmer near Waihola, said the shock of Friday's attacks was now beginning to wear off, and many in the French community were becoming uncharacteristically angry about the continuing terrorist activity in Paris.
He believed the reaction showed the depth of hurt his countrymen were feeling.
''We get passionate about things, but rarely do we get really angry,'' Mr Chameret said.
''Previous generations have fought to free France and now I feel that is being taken from us - now you've got terrorism come in.
''People are starting to get really racist in France because of this incident and because of previous incidents like Charlie Hebdo.''
During the latest attacks, Mr Chameret said he was worried sick about his father, who worked two days a week in Paris. Fortunately, he was not caught up in the attack.
''But one of my friends from East France lost one of his friends in the Bataclan. His girlfriend also received two bullets in the shoulder. Nobody knows if she will make it.''
Miss Ott, who is working as a nanny in Dunedin, was also angry.
''I'm really angry at the Islamic extremists. The people in Paris, they don't ask anything. They don't ask that the French army goes in Syria to fight, and it is us that are killed.''
The terrorist attacks had left her fearful of returning to France.
''It's really hard because we are here in New Zealand, but we are all the time thinking about France - it is our country.
''I'm really scared to go back to France, because we know there is going to be worse and worse of this kind.
''Soon we are going to have all of the Christmas markets in France, and there is going to be lots and lots of people all in one place at the same time. So I'm really scared that something is going to happen there.
''All the time you are thinking, today no family, no friends were involved. They are OK.
''But maybe tomorrow it's going to be one of my family members. So we are really scared. I think it is safer in New Zealand.
''All we can do is keep our heads up. Vive la France.''
The vigil in the Octagon was organised by Alliance Francaise de Dunedin chief organiser Caroline Ancel, to give people affected by the attacks a chance to come together.
People held hands while observing a minute's silence, before singing the French national anthem.
''Just because when you're far away from your family in times of sadness, you want to get together and find support.''
The group has organised a minute's silence at noon today Paris time (midnight NZ time) by the peace pole in front of Otago Museum.
A second minute's silence will be held at noon tomorrow.
