A prominent Southland lawyer has called for the trial of the man accused of the Christchurch terror attack that left 50 dead last month to be suppressed.
John Fraser, who was addressing a remembrance event in Invercargill yesterday, said the trial would give the attacker "a public platform" to express his political views.
He said he was of the view that the media should not be broadcasting or publishing the trial.
"We already know enough. We do not need to know more," he said.
On March 15, a gunman entered two Christchurch mosques, shooting 50 Muslim worshippers dead and injuring a further 48 people.
The remembrance event, held at Invercargill's Masonic Centre and hosted by the Southland Muslim Association, was attended by hundreds of people.
"I was overwhelmed by the enormity of the tragedy," Mr Fraser said.
Leaders of the Muslim community addressed the gathering, as did several political and civil leaders, including the police's Southland area commander, Inspector Mike Bowman.
Imam Reza Abdul-Jabbar gave thanks to the public of New Zealand, describing the support the Muslim community had received since the Christchurch attack as "phenomenal".
"The support is unimaginable. We expected support, but it has been unimaginable."
He said some members of the Muslim community were still in shock and he urged the country's leaders to do their utmost to ensure that such an attack never happened again in New Zealand.
"Us, as a community, we extend our deepest gratitude."
He paid tribute to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, the police and the emergency services.
Inspector Bowman encouraged people to "challenge hate" and to report anything suspicious, as it would help to prevent people "slipping below the radar".
