Straight from city council A personal view, by Councillor Steve Morris

At the time of writing, we've had 50 fellow Kiwis stolen from us in a cowardly terrorist attack.

They'll forever be our mums and dads, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters.

As the Prime Minister said, and I'm sure all right-thinking New Zealanders would agree: 'They were all of us.”

How should we respond to terror? To discourage further attacks we must highly resolve to act the exact opposite way the terrorist wants; to overcome evil by doing good and make the most of every opportunity to do so.

We need to be fanatics in love and embrace Muslims and migrants in our community. I was so impressed this week when locals offered to walk alongside any Muslim that feared going out in public.

The shedding of innocent blood here is a mark on our country's name. It is hard to watch international news and see our beloved New Zealand associated with such brutality.

Let's not allow the crime to define us as a country. Let's be an example to the world by how we respond when a savage tries to divide us.

Who are we as a nation? The second verse of our national anthem tells us: 'Men of every creed and race, gather here before Thy face, asking Thee to bless this place, God defend our free land. From dissension, envy, hate, and corruption guard our state, make our country good and great, God defend New Zealand.”

Let's fulfil these words together.