A week on from the shooting at 1 Queen Street where three people died, and 10 were injured, central Auckland mana whenua Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei gathered with dignitaries and members of the public to bless the site where the tragedy occurred.
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown and Tāmaki Makaurau MP Peeni Henare were among the 100-strong crowd at Komititanga Square as day broke on one of the coldest mornings of the year in the city.
Ricky Wilson/Stuff
Mournful wails filled the air as mana whenua, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei blessed the site where a horrific shooting took place a week earlier
The Thursday morning ceremony to bless the site was held one week after the tragic events unfolded at 1 Queen Street.
“When the city hurts, we hurt…we stand here this morning to whakawātea [clear], to mourn and to heal,” said Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei general manager for culture Te Kurataiaho Kapea.
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The dawn event was about bringing the city together as “one big whānau” he told those assembled.
On July 20, Matu Tangi Matu Reid, 24 entered the construction site at 1 Queen Street just after 7am and opened fire killing Solomona Tootoo, 45, and Tupuga Sipiliano, 44 and injuring 10 others. Reid died soon after from a self-inflicted wound.
Ricky Wilson/Stuff
Mana whenua and dignitaries including mayor Wayne Brown gathered to bless the…
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