Adams AmyHon AMY ADAMS (National—Selwyn): Assalamo alaikum. In the more than 10 years that I've been speaking in this House I've found this speech one of the hardest to know what to say. At about 20 to 2 last Friday I think the innocence of all of us was shattered. Our comfortable naivety and our easy sense of safety was ripped away. I think we were all shocked when we heard the news. For me it was a call from my daughter checking where I was and if I was OK. But as the afternoon went on that shock turned into utter disbelief and devastation.I think then and since then there have been two questions that we just cannot get out of our minds. The first is: how did this happen? The second is: how do we make sure that it never ever happens again? Those two questions are with me every hour that I'm awake since those events.We have to remember of course that at the heart of the tragedy that we're talking about and as we reflect on how it's affected everyone in New Zealand there are a huge number of victims. Of course there are the 50 dead and the 48 injured but also the many many more who have had their lives ripped apart who have lost family and loved ones and who have seen things and have experienced things that no one should ever experience. The stories the images they describe are heartbreaking and those of us who have had the privilege of speaking with some of them since Friday would tell you that their grief is utterly palpable. But what's amazed me as other members have talked about is their unbelievable graciousness. The warmth the welcome and the gratitude they express I think speaks more about the Muslim community than any of the vicious nastiness we might have seen in times gone by. I've got to say the response of everyone across New Zealand has brought incredible light to what have been very very dark days.If this was an attack aimed at creating division it has failed. If this was an attack about triggering hatred it has failed. New Zealand has responded from coast to coast from Bluff to Cape Reinga with love with peace and with inclusion. I know it's been said before but last Friday is not who we are. We are and we must be a country of open minds and open hearts to all of our people regardless of whether or not they were born here or whether they have chosen to call New Zealand their home and regardless of what how who or where they choose to worship.New Zealand has long been seen internationally as unique and until now that uniqueness has included our seeming immunity from acts of terrorism. But I absolutely believe that our response to last Friday's events will show our uniqueness once more as this tragedy will bring us closer together and make us stronger as a nation together.I just want to make mention also of all of the police and ambulance staff in Canterbury. They are our heroes. I particularly want to acknowledge and commend the two Selwyn police officers who saved us all from further grief and more loss. We don't yet know the full details of what the assailant had planned but we know that thanks to the bravery of our first responders horrific as it is it's not as bad as it might have been. We will be for ever grateful to them.I want to end though again with the victims. Like others in this House I have been privileged to spend time with them since the attack. I want to assure them that this whole nation welcomes them. They are New Zealanders. What happened on Friday is not.