Forty-nine people have been killed in shooting attacks on two Christchurch mosques on Friday, March 15.
Police Commissioner Mike Bush revised the death toll in a 9pm press conference, up from 40 people dead earlier Friday.
Of the victims, 41 lost their lives at the Deans Ave mosque and seven people lost their lives at the Linwood mosque. One other person died in hospital.
Forty-eight other people were injured and are being treated in hospital.
Jacinda Ardern said the attacks could only be described as terrorism and said those involved were extremists, but were not on security watchlists.
A further 20 people are seriously injured.
Police earlier said four people were in custody.Three of these are now thought to be involved in the attacks.
Police Commissioner Mike Bush said, the suspects were apprehended by local police staff in acts of bravery.
He said improvised explosive devices were found on vehicles used by the attackers.
A person issued a warning on social media ahead of the attack and live streamed video of at least one of the shootings taking place.
Parts of central Christchurch, including schools, were in lockdown after the incidents. School lockdowns were lifted just before 6pm.
Earlier today one eyewitness told 1 NEWS a gunman came in the front door of the Masjid Al Noor mosque on Deans Ave. "Everybody just ran to the back door to save themselves," he said.
They hid under cars while the firing continued. Some people then jumped a fence to escape and hid in a nearby house.
There was also another shooting at a mosque in Linwood Ave.
It appears automatic weapons were used and there were many shots fired.
Another eyewitness Mohammed Nazir told 1 NEWS that he saw the gunman come into the mosque and he saw people injured on the floor, including two women.
He said there was lots of blood on the floor.
The man said he ran away from the shooter to a spot behind the mosque where he called police.
Police asked people to keep out of the area in Christchurch and to stay away from all mosques in New Zealand today.
Armed police have reportedly been seen at mosques across the country as a precautionary measure.
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