Mourners perform traditional Maori war dance for NZ terror attack victims

Students from various schools, people from the general community and even members of a biker gang in New Zealand have been seen doing the haka to honour the victims of the March 15 Christchurch terror attacks.

The terror attacks by a white supremacist on two Christchurch mosques left 50 people dead, sending shock waves through a country that averages no more than 50 murders a year.

New Zealand have responded to the Christchurch mosque terror attacks with an outpouring of interfaith solidarity.

The haka, a Maori tribal war dance, has been performed by people around New Zealand as a celebration of community and strength.

Fergus Kilpatrick, a student of Christchurch Boys' High School who was also part of a haka tribute to the victims, said it was an honour to perform the war dance.

"It's something that's really special. It's a part of our culture, and it's what we've done growing up, to share that with someone through their grieving period," he told ABC.

Members of the city's Muslim community were moved to tears by the performance.

The students and members of the Muslim community then crossed the road and hugged one another.

"We are very fortunate to be here in New Zealand with people … who understand our culture and our religion," one man from the Muslim community told ABC.

"This event has scarred us but it's also brought us closer together," he said. 

He said the traditional dance was something in which the whole community could share.

"We are hurt, but we are not scared," he said.

Members of a biker gang also performed the tribal war dance to honour the victims of the terror attacks.

Before the tribute, the gang's spokesperson thanked the New Zealand police for their work, reports The Guardian.

Kiwis perform the Haka today at Arundel Mosque as a sign of support for Muslim’s. Hundreds of NZ people joined the Muslims during prayer time. @9NewsGoldCoast @9NewsQueensland pic.twitter.com/PZajw5glUo

— Mark Hanrahan (@MarkHanrahan9) March 16, 2019

Footage of another haka performed outside a mosque on the Gold Coast in Australia has also emerged.

A group of Kiwis visiting Arundel Mosque performed the Tika Tonu haka surrounded by hundreds of people who gathered to join in and pray for the victims of the attack, reports stuff.co.nz.