A coronial inquiry into the 2019 terror attacks on two mosques in New Zealand has opened with a traditional Maori welcome and a reading from the Koran in remembrance of the 51 worshippers killed.
Australian Brenton Tarrant, 32, was sentenced to life in prison in August 2020 with no possibility of release for the terror attacks.
Deputy Chief Coroner Brigitte Windley's first phase inquest will examine 10 issues, all relating to the day of the attack on March 15, 2019.
“I ask simply that we keep each of the 51 people whose lives have been lost, and that common goal at the centre of this hearing,” Windley said as she opened the inquiry on Tuesday.
The coroner said the inquiry would “seek to shine a light” on what happened and would consider making recommendations to reduce the chances of a similar event happening again.
“This inquiry is not about establishing liability or negligence,” she said. “I have no mandate to award compensation or to direct further proceedings.”
Over the next six weeks, the inquiry will examine 10 issues including the response by emergency services and hospital staff, whether Tarrant had direct assistance from any other person and the cause of death for each of the deceased.
It will also investigate whether an emergency exit door failed to function in one of the mosques.
The evidence includes nearly 5000 images, 3000 audio files and over 80 hours of video. More than 600 people are registered to attend the six-week hearing in person at some stage.
Windley is not expected to release her findings until sometime in 2024.
The inquiry is a legal process required by New Zealand law to examine unexpected deaths and receives input from medical examiners, police, first responders and other witnesses to the death.
The main courtroom was full and further space had been made available in a neighbouring courtroom for families to watch a livestream.
Before the first witness appeared, a video was played with photos and memories of all those who died. The start of the inquiry was then dedicated to the events on the day and how emergency services responded.
The attacks on the Al Noor mosque and the Linwood Islamic Centre were filmed by the gunman and live-streamed on social media.
They led to major gun reforms in NZ, and the establishment of the Christchurch Call, an initiative to tackle terrorist and extremist content online.
