Fijian-born and raised Mohammed Ashif said he moved to Christchurch with his parents in 2009, to find new opportunities and a more comfortable lifestyle.
Christchurch had given him a good education, a good job and his future wife, a Fijian-born and raised preschool teacher named Zulfin Afifah Bi Ashif, who immigrated to New Zealand in 2017, he said.
The couple were living their best lives, until March 15, 2019, when a gunman burst into two of the city’s mosques and opened fire.
Mr Ashif was at Linwood Mosque and saw many of his friends killed. Mrs Ashif’s father was also at the mosque.
While Mr Ashif said he managed to avoid getting shot, it was still ‘‘a really big trauma’’ for him.
Mrs Ashif said they got a lot of support in the wake of the horrifying event and they were still working through that.
‘‘New Zealand has really helped us and I think 2019 was a big thing for us after the mosque attack.’’
Following the attacks, the couple decided to move to Dunedin.
Looking back, Mr Ashif said the move had played a big part in helping him ‘‘move forward’’.
It was also playing a major part in helping them raise their son Aabid Saifullah Mohammed.
‘‘We’ve had the good benefits of New Zealand prior to getting citizenship, that’s why we wanted to stay.
‘‘New Zealand’s helped us get where we are today,’’ he said.
‘‘We looked for a new place and just wanted to ... find a new rhythm of life somewhere safer.
‘‘Dunedin is the best place for us.’’
Mr Ashif was delighted his family were now citizens.
‘‘I am looking forward to going to the airport with my black passport ... and being able to travel everywhere, anywhere you want.’’
