Judith Collins gives condolences after terror attack, calls accused 'filthy coward'

"I grieve with the people of the Islamic religion in NZ," she said.

National's Judith Collins today told Parliament today there are "too many guns in this country" - and referred to the alleged perpetrator as a "filthy coward" - as she paid respect to the 50 people who lost their lives in the Christchurch terror attack. 

"We are profoundly sad," she said before offering a rare olive branch to Jacinda Ardern.

"I would like to thank the Prime Minister for the work she did on Saturday. I thought it was outstanding... I would like to thank the leader of the Opposition for the support that he gave with the Prime Minister."

She also thanked the police, ambulance and other first responders.

"I know that we have lived in an age of innocence, and that veil of innocence that we've had has been very cruelly ripped from our eyes. It has been ripped from our eyes because we now have 50 people dead, 50 people dead, and many others in hospital or suffering.

"I grieve with the people of the Islamic religion in New Zealand."

Her fellow National MP Chris Bishop also gave his condolences in Parliament, telling his experience at the mosque in Taita, Lower Hutt on Saturday. 

"The gentleman outside said to me, 'Hey, brother'... I've been reflecting on that moment as we now know about the poignancy of those words," he said. 

"As we were talking and I was expressing my condolences, the King Cobras turned up in a big van. They bounced out of the van with a big bunch of flowers and handed them over to some representatives from the mosque, and then a gentleman from the King Cobras came out with six big bags of food from Countdown."

Mr Bishop said the man asked, "Do you guys eat beef? We just want to make sure we've got the right meat."

"As I left, they were filming, the King Cobras and the gentleman from the mosque, a Facebook video together about how we all live under one God and how they wanted to help.

Numerous patched gang members have visited the mosques to pay tribute.

"Everything has changed in New Zealand since Friday, but in the same way absolutely nothing has changed. We must continue to ensure New Zealand stands steadfast against terror, stands for tolerance, stands for civility, and stands for a multicultural New Zealand where all are respected."

Mr Bishop gave assurances as National's police spokesperson that gun laws would change.

"Something is wrong when someone can have access to so much lethality and so much power and commit such crimes. As a Parliament, we must ensure that that can never happen again."

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