Monday, March 25, 2019

Aotearoa New Zealand continues to mourn the lives of those taken on March 15. There has been an enormous response from the whole Aotearoa New Zealand community of love and solidarity in communities large and small. It gives us great heart to know that research indicates that this collective experience/trauma of emotions will lead to long term solidarity. The Muslim community have acted with such grace under the most extraordinary circumstances. When Al Noor Mosque Iman Gamal Fouda, who survived Friday’s attacks spoke, telling the people of Christchurch that NZ was unbreakable… "We are broken-hearted, but we are not broken. We are alive, we are together, we are determined to not let anyone divide us." The very foundation of Islam is the notion of peace, we as a nation have certainly witnessed this. Faced with incredible suffering Muslims throughout Aotearoa New Zealand have responded with warmth and generosity. 

Acknowledging the leadership of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. Her empathy, compassion and love has been an inspiration not only to everyone in Aotearoa New Zealand, but globally. There has been global praise from Leaders throughout the world, thanking her for the way in which she has handled the aftermath of this massacre.
As His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum who is the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE as well as the Ruler of Dubai,"Thank you PM @jacindaardern and New Zealand for your sincere empathy and support that has won the respect of 1.5 billion Muslims after the terrorist attack that shook the Muslim community around the world."

This little movie attached to this post is backed by Dave Dobbyn’s song written specifically for new immigrants landing on our shores, it is a celebration of our nations desire to both welcome and celebrate our diversity. What follows below are the lyrics to this song as well as the translation into Maori by Te Haumihiata
Arohanui, Wendy on behalf of ELP



Welcome Home
Dave Dobbyn

Tonight I am feeling for you
Under the state of a strange land
You have sacrificed much to be here
There but for grace as I offer my hand


Welcome home, I bid you welcome, I bid you welcome
Welcome home from the bottom of my heart


Out here on the edge

The empire is fading by the day
And the world is so weary in war
Maybe we'll find that new way

So welcome home, see I made a space for you now


Welcome home from the bottom of our heart
Welcome home from the bottom of our hearts


Keep it coming now keep it coming now

You'll find most of us here with our hearts wide open
Keep it coming now keep on coming now 
Keep it coming now keep on coming now


There's a woman with her hands trembling

And she sings with a mountain's memory 

There's a cloud the full length of these isles

Just playing chase with the sun
And it's black and it's white and it's wild
All the colours are one

So welcome home, I bid you welcome, I bid you welcome


Welcome home from the bottom of our hearts

Welcome home, see I made a space for you now
Welcome home from the bottom of our hearts
From the bottom of our hearts



Welcome Home lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Words & Music A Div Of Big Deal Music LLC


Nau Mai Rai
nā Te Haumihiata Mason

kei te aroha au ki a koe
e tānoatia nei e tauwhenua
rawa kore mai koe ki konei
ka toro te ringa ki tō kaha

nau mai rā, ki te papa, papa tipu
nau mai rā, te karanga a te ngākau

tū ana i te pari
horo kau iho te ao
kua ruha i te pakanga
rapua he ara hou

nau mai rā, tēnei rā tō kāinga
nau mai rā, te karanga a te ngākau
nau mai rā, te karanga a te ngākau

haere tonu mai, haere tonu mai
ko te ngākau tuwhera ka tū atu nei

haere tonu mai, haere tonu mai
haere tonu mai, nau mai haere mai

kua pōhiri te reo karanga, haere mai
kua pōhiri ngā maunga, haere mai

ko te ao tea roa o konei
te hoa tauwhai o te rā

mā te pango, te mā, me te pai
ka iwi kotahi te ao

nau mai rā, ki te papa, papa tipu
nau mai rā, tēnei rā tō kāinga
nau mai rā, te karanga a te ngākau
te karanga a te ngākau


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