Comment permalink

Michael Woodhouse.
Michael Woodhouse.
The man charged with murder in connection with the Christchurch mosque killings lived just three blocks from the home of Michael Woodhouse, the Dunedin National list MP told Parliament yesterday.

Speaking in a special debate organised for MPs to express their sorrow over the events in Christchurch last Friday, Mr Woodhouse said the killings were especially horrifying for Dunedin.

''The other poignant feature of this for Dunedinites is, of course, the revelation that the evil-doer lived among us - in my case, just three blocks away from my home.

''He was hiding in plain sight and I agree with previous speeches that he is not us. He is not who we are.''

Mr Woodhouse acknowledged reports of Islamophobic incidents in Dunedin and other places.

''I know these are very isolated incidents but in our silence in the face of such prejudice we risk complicity.

''We have a duty to provide this country and its communities places to live without fear, and I support the efforts to provide that reassurance and will continue to work with my fellow Dunedin-based colleagues Clare Curran and David Clark to re-establish Dunedin as a place of peace for all its citizens.''

Health Minister and Dunedin North Labour MP David Clark said he had travelled to Christchurch on Friday afternoon at the request of Canterbury District Health Board management.

He was proud of all of the health professionals and first responders he had met in recent days.

''I spoke with those who received the 111 calls - the first ones from the mosque while the gunshots were still ringing out in the background,'' Dr Clark said.

''I heard from those who co-ordinated the fleets of ambulances which went backwards and forwards between the mosques and the hospital.

''I heard from those who triaged patients and from those who provided lifesaving treatment.

''Can I put on record my thanks to the staff and crew of St John's, and also to the medical, nursing, and allied health workforce of Canterbury DHB who did a truly exceptional job in very difficult circumstances and continue to do an exceptional job.''

Parliament has suspended normal business in the wake of the Christchurch attack and has adjourned until April 2.

 

Comments

Come on Michael is that it? 'lived just three blocks from the home of Michael Woodhouse' and killings were especially horrifying for Dunedin. They were horrifying for all News Zealanders those living in NZ and Overseas. Those statements remnd me of a movie - One time at band camp..... or old work mates where they always had a better story than others also know as my black cat is blacker than your black cat. My claim to fame is I used to drive up that street to go to the Waverley fish n chips shop. yep - it sounds pathetic doesn't it.

This is 100% Correct 'have a duty to provide this country and its communities places to live without fear' All of us have this Duty not just Officials, every family member has that duty, our mothers ,fathers, brother, sisters aunties, and uncles all have that Duty and it starts at home.

I'm not Woodhouse supporter but understand what he is saying. It's not about claim to fame, it's about proximity to this guy and that 'there but for the grace God go I' feeling. I understand because I 'shared the air that he breathed' - at the same South Dunedin gym. My home was in Deans Ave when the mosque was built in the 1980's. It about putting yourself in the shoes of others. It's about feeling for those who suffered and continue to suffer. So don't be so hard on him Rtn2Dun.

Did you read the whole article ??

 

Advertisement