Hundreds of school students have held a moving vigil near the Christchurch mosque where many people were killed in Friday's terrorist attack.
An area in Hagley Park across the road from the Deans Avenue mosque is a sea of floral tributes after 50 worshipers were killed and another 50 injured in shootings there and at another mosque in Linwood. An Australian man has been charged with murder.
This afternoon candles were lit, haka performed, and singing resounded as hundreds of school students gathered to pay respects to the victims and show unity.
A tiny flame was passed from candle to candle.
"It symbolises the light that we want to spread and pretty much the love," one boy told 1 NEWS.
Some schools are having to come to terms with the awful truth that there are students who won’t be returning to class.
A girl added: "And by lighting each other's candles we're unifying ourselves a students and as the community of Christchurch.
The young man said: "It doesn't matter where you were born. I was born in a different country. I came here for a better life. And to see everyone out here supporting each other is just one beautiful thing."
Representing every school in the region, the students sang and prayed for those lost on Friday and some fought back tears.
Seven of the victims were connected to Cashmere High School. Two of the dead were current students there.
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