If you want to develop your listening skills, try these tasks as you listen to the text. The answers are at the bottom of this page, after the Vocabulary. Thanks to Natasha Groves for preparing the tasks.
If you want to listen and read, just scroll down to the text.
1. Listening for main ideas
First, just listen to the text, taking notes if you wish. What information can you catch during this first listening?
2. Now listen again and answer the following questions:
- Saturday, 15 March was the anniversary of which tragic event?
- What took place on Saturday to mark the anniversary?
- What did Prime Minister Christopher Luxon say?
- What did Abdur Razzaq request from the Prime Minister?
- How did the law change in 2019?
- Why is the review of the Arms Act causing concern among some members of the Muslim community?
- How did the Minister responsible for the review, Nicole McKee, justify the need for updating the Arms Act?
- Why was there no public remembrance service on Saturday?
- What act of remembrance was carried out instead of a public service?
Language focus: Collocations
Match the phrases in Column A with the correct ones in Column B. Then check your answers by finding the phrases in the text.
a. several people spoke i. the law
b. there was no place ii. to the coalition government reviewing
the Arms Act
c. New Zealand is a multi-cultural iii. updating
d. diversity is iv. by media organisations
e. This was in response v. at the meeting
f. the government changed vi. for Islamophobia in New Zealand
g. the review may vii. members are concerned about this
h. Many Muslim community viii. country
i. the law needs ix. change these restrictions
j. the adhan was broadcast x. a strength
Text
Saturday, 15 March, was the sixth anniversary of the mosque attacks in Christchurch. In 2019, a white supremacist terrorist from Australia went to two mosques in Christchurch, the Al Noor Mosque and Linwood Islamic Centre, and killed 51 people. 89 people were injured. It was New Zealand’s worst mass shooting.
On Saturday morning there was a Unity Hui (or meeting) in Christchurch to mark the anniversary. Several people spoke at the meeting, including Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, and the chairman of the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand, Abdur Razzaq. Christopher Luxon said that there was no place for Islamophobia in New Zealand. He said that hatred must be confronted wherever it appears, and that New Zealand is a multi-cultural country where diversity is a strength.
When Abdur Razzaq spoke, he asked the Prime Minister not to bring semi-automatic weapons back into the country. This was in response to the coalition government reviewing the Arms Act. After the attacks in 2019, the government changed the law to restrict semi-automatic weapons, so that only a few hundred people are currently allowed to use them for pest control. However, the review may change these restrictions. Many Muslim community members are concerned about this, particularly because the Minister responsible for the review, Nicole McKee from the ACT Party, used to be a spokesperson for the Council of Licensed Firearm Owners. However, the Minister says that the law needs updating because it has been in place for 40 years with only minor changes, and so it needs a full rewrite.
There was no public remembrance service on Saturday, because the families of those killed and injured have not wanted one since 2021. Instead, the adhan (call to prayer) was broadcast by media organisations at 1.39pm, as an act of remembrance.
Vocabulary
anniversary – a date on which something special or important happened
mosque – a building where Muslims pray
white supremacist – someone who believes that white people are better than people of other races
confront – to deal with or face something
semi- – (a prefix) half
pest – an animal or insect that destroys crops or, in New Zealand, that eats native birds e.g. possums
spokesperson – a person who speaks on behalf of a group or organisation
remembrance – when people remember someone who has died
Answers
1. Saturday, 15 March was the anniversary of which tragic event?
The 2019 mosque attacks in Christchurch
2. What took place on Saturday to mark the anniversary?
A Unity Hui (or meeting) in Christchurch
3. What did Prime Minister Christopher Luxon say?
There’s no place for Islamophobia in NZ.
Hatred must be confronted wherever it appears.
NZ is a multi-cultural country where diversity is a strength.
4. What did Abdur Razzaq request from the Prime Minister?
Not to bring semi-automatic weapons back into the country
5. How did the law change in 2019?
Semi-automatic weapons were severely restricted. Only a few hundred people are currently allowed to use them for pest control.
6. Why is the review of the Arms Act causing concern among some members of the Muslim community?
Because they don’t want more semi-automatic weapons to be allowed into the country. Also, the Minister responsible for the review, Nicole McKee from the ACT Party, used to be a spokesperson for the Council of Licensed Firearm Owners
7. How did the Minister responsible for the review, Nicole McKee, justify the need for updating the Arms Act?
The law needs updating because it has been in place for 40 years with only minor changes, and so it needs a full rewrite.
8. Why was there no public remembrance service on Saturday?
The families of those killed and injured have not wanted one since 2021.
9. What act of remembrance was carried out instead of a public service?
The adhan (call to prayer) was broadcast by media organisations at 1.39pm, as an act of remembrance.