[ad_1]
Thirty years after the Aramoana massacre near Dunedin, families and first responders have gathered at the memorial to mark the anniversary.
Your playlist will load after this ad.
It was the deadliest mass shooting in New Zealand until last year’s mosque attack in Christchurch. Source: 1 NEWS
It was the deadliest mass shooting in New Zealand until last year’s mosque attack in Christchurch.
Today’s event was one of the largest organized gatherings since the tragedy unfolded.
Officers, AOS members, paramedics and families of the victims were among those who returned to the memorial site and paid tribute to those who never made it out of the city.
The names of the 13 who were killed in Aramoana in November 1990 were read aloud.
District Superintendent Commander Paul Basham said it was an emotional event.
“We are a family, we are a whānau, it is sad and moving when we meet today, but there is a tremendous sense of esprit de corps,” he said.
The atrocities occurred in the quiet beachfront township where resident David Gray embarked on a murderous rampage.
Four of his victims were children, the first officer on the scene, Sergeant Stewart Guthrie was also killed.
It was after a 22-hour siege that officers shot dead the gunman.
Retired Sheriff Paul Buchanon organized the memorial, having also attended the mass shooting.
“It’s like we left yesterday and we got together again today, we started over,” Buchanon said.
For the survivors, the memories are just as vivid. Julie-Anne Tamati was shot but survived. She lost her fiancé Garry and her 11-year-old daughter Rewa.
“Sometimes I think, 30 years old, I should have gotten over it. But you don’t get over it, you know I think it’s wonderful that people have the opportunity to remember in whatever way is important to them, ”Tamati told 1 NEWS.
