Govt looks overseas for ideas to beef up security

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says she is studying what other countries have done in the wake of terror attacks to see what lessons New Zealand can learn to prevent a repeat of the Christchurch shootings.

Ms Ardern was in Dunedin yesterday, a visit which had been planned since it became known the man accused of the Christchurch terror attack had lived in the city.

''The message I had received from our local MPs here was the local Muslim community were acutely aware of that,'' Ms Ardern said.

''I wanted to come and visit with them, to hear about their concerns, and to listen really.''

Ms Ardern said the job of the Government following the killing of 50 people in two Christchurch mosques on March 15 was to do everything possible to prevent it happening again, and make sure the Muslim community and New Zealand as a whole knew safety was its No1 priority.

''One thing I have been looking to is overseas examples of what sort of work has been done in the aftermath of a terrorist attack like this, to make sure that we do everything we can to prevent this ever happening again,'' she said.

''I think it is only right that we go back and look at the legislation that we have and make sure that it is covering off all that we have seen and experienced since March 15.''

Ms Ardern was speaking just after a visit to Dunedin's Al Huda mosque - the initial intended target of the terrorist attack.

''They, as with many other members of the Muslim community throughout New Zealand, raised the topic of the love and support they have received from those around them.

''There was one woman in the room who said she had lived in New Zealand for more than a decade but she had never felt more at home than she had in these last 10 days.

''I find that such an astounding message in the wake of what the community has experienced.''

Ms Ardern said she had wanted to come to Dunedin sooner, but scheduling a trip had been difficult in the circumstances.

Other concerns raised at the mosque meeting including personal safety - particularly for women - and how long added police security would be maintained.

mike.houlahan@odt.co.nz