This year's commemoration of the 15 March terror attacks lands on a Friday, the same as in 2019. Friday's afternoon's congregation, or Jumu'ah, is one of the most important acts of worship for Muslims.
It was during these moments of prayer that terror shook Masjid Annur and the Linwood Islamic Centre. Fifty one people were killed and 40 others seriously injured.
Temel Atacocugu is proud of his small Christchurch garden.
"I have here tomatoes, cucumbers, you can see the little cucumbers come out and tomatoes, lots of flowers on it. And cherry tomatoes," he told RNZ First Up.
"I have a two capsicums. I like chili peppers. And I have a lot of lettuces and parsley and fresh mint. I like fresh salad. So we do lots of salads."
Planters full of bright coloured flowers sat in one corner, next to his charcoal barbeque. Temel insisted that charcoal is the only way to bring out real flavour.
"I don't like gas barbecues … taste is different. [Charcoal] is much better. Yes, I do recommend it to people."
Inside, his home was decorated with Turkish rugs, paintings and decorative pieces to honour his heritage.
"All my house, doors, windows, everywhere I painted myself and I like different colours. I have a red door, the back is turquoise blue and my toilet door is yellow. Bedrooms are different colours.
"Every time the weather changes, I feel so uncomfortable. My arms are so painful and my knees are, because of all the bullet injuries."
He said the pain gave him flashbacks to the day of the shooting, but he tried to stay positive. He plays social football with other survivors, which helps him keep fit.
Two years ago, Temel raised $60,000 for children and youth charities through a walk for peace from Dunedin to Masjid Annur in Christchurch, taking the same route the terrorist took on 15 March, 2019.
"I wish I could do it again, but of course it's a health issue too, and I wish to be more healthy, then I can do lots of good stuff for the people and for the kids, and raise more money for the charities."
In 2024, it was not possible for him to make the same journey. Temel is marking the day by going to afternoon prayer at Masjid Annur, just as he did five years ago.
Survivor Faisal Abbas will also be among the many people who will join the congregation.
Faisal was in the ablution area of the mosque when the shooting began. He was amongst the first people who called emergency services. Several people he knew were killed that day.
"I felt like as if I have let down people, and I would ask this question over and over again. Why am I alive, and why are the other people suffering, why did they die?
"For me, it was like I remember for that one week, I thought that I'm alone in the world in the sense that I even forgot my wife and kids."
But eventually he found solace in sport. It came after he reached a point that he knew he had to do something different, he needed to be with people.
"And cricket is one thing that has always been there. So I thought why not just register an outdoor team and have most of the players from Muslim backgrounds.
"In this way, the people who just like me, don't want to come out, might come out. And that's exactly what happened.
"So we have a couple of players who are brothers and brother-in-law of the shaheeds [martyrs].
"It's been really good. We started with 11 players and now we have 20 players in the team and we are still going strong. It's our fifth season."
Across town, survivor Farid Ahmed will start his day by distributing cake around the neighbourhood to honour his wife Husna who was killed in the attacks.
"Last five years, amazing things have happened. I was able to discover myself. Before the tragedy I was quite dependent, more dependent, I would say. And I did not see a lot of potential in me, but after it I realised I have to be a stronger person.
"I discovered that I was stronger than before. It has made me fearless."
"She gave her life to save me. She left a lesson for me: I gave my life for you, for good reason, and you continue giving your life telling whatever you have for the greater good of humanity," he said.
Within a week of her death, Farid started writing a book about her.
"I was thinking of doing a hospital. I didn't have money. I was thinking about doing some other charitable work. I didn't have money and then I thought I could write so I should try that. And also I can donate it to the ambulance."
The book Husna's Story was published in March 2020.
Since the attacks Farid has been made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit and was a semi-finalist in the Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards.
In July 2019, while attending an international conference on religious freedom, he was amongst 27 people selected to meet then President Donald Trump in the Oval Office.
He has also received the US Secretary of State's International Religious Freedom Award.
"The awards I think is an indication, just a signal, that Farid carried on … doing something good, nothing more than that."
As for Temel, there is one thing that keeps him going.
"Life is beautiful, so it's worth to carry on. Life, we shouldn't stop. The show must go on."
Luxon, Collins pay respects Marking March 15
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks.
“March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Luxon said.
“Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada – the martyrs who were unjustly targeted for their beliefs, and to those who were injured.
“We remember the great courage and compassion from our Muslim community, that continues to this day.
“We pay tribute to everyone across both New Zealand and internationally who rallied together to provide comfort and support in this time of need.”
People in New Zealand should be able to go about their lives without fear, Ms Collins says.
“We will ensure we’ve learnt the lessons from the Royal Commission of Inquiry and made the necessary changes.
Events to mark March 15
Canterbury’s Muslim community will today gather to commemorate the Christchurch mosque shootings.
Abdur Razzaq, of the Federation of Islamic Associations, said today was a solemn but important day. It would be commemorated by Muslims throughout the country.
In Christchurch, worshippers would mark Jumu’ah ahead of a commemoration service at Masjid Annur in the evening.
It would be attended by the communities of both mosques, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, opposition leader Chris Hipkins, Sir William Young - who chaired the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the attacks, as well as representatives from government agencies and local schools and first responders.
“It will be to respect and remember the shuhada and the survivors,” Razzaq said.
There were three themes underlying the event - the wellbeing and welfare of survivors and the memory of the shuhada (the martyrs of the attack); remembering and reaffirming the aroha shown by the wider New Zealand community in response to the attack; and to remember the lessons learned.
“We have to understand that hate is out there. We have to work through our differences, but diversity is important - it provides a rich tapestry for our culture in New Zealand. We have to appreciate each other’s differences and respect that,” Razzaq said.
You can also watch the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra's free Beyond Words concert stream on Friday at 8.30pm on NZSO+.
The stream will be available to view until 22 March at nzso.co.nz/plus/videos/beyond-words.
Razzaq said recalling the support and outpouring of grief from New Zealand in response to the attack was also very important.
“It was actually the start of the healing process.
“It brought the whole of New Zealand together and it’s not only enduring, but also very much endearing for all of us.”
The support of Aotearoa was also at the forefront of Farid Ahmed’s mind.
Ahmed was a survivor of the shooting at Masjid Annur, but his wife was killed in the attack.
