The scope of the coronial investigation into the Christchurch mosque attacks will delve further into how terrorist Brenton Tarrant obtained a firearms license and the extent to which social media influenced his radicalisation.
More than three years after Tarrant, a white supremacist, opened fire at two mosques in Christchurch, coroner Brigitte Windley has confirmed the focus of her coronial investigation.
In a decision released on Thursday morning, Windley acknowledged the unprecedented nature of the March 15, 2019 atrocities and the scale of the coroner's investigation.
Windley confirmed the investigation will explore the emergency response to March 15, the cause of each person's death, how Tarrant obtaining a firearms license caused the deaths of 51 people, whether Tarrant was radicalised by his online activity and "the line of defence that wider community may provide as one means of future prevention".
The hearing will be held in Christchurch at a yet-to-be-decided date.
Windley noted those who died in the attacks were at the heart of the investigation.
"In determining its scope, I have looked to those most affected - the families of those who died and other interested parties, of which there are currently 119 - to identify the issues of concern to them.
"The high level of engagement by interested parties and the extensive submissions made on the issues for the inquiry, including at the scope hearing in February this year, is testimony to the critical importance of this decision."
Tarrant, an Australian, was jailed for life in 2020 on 51 charges of murder, 40 of attempted murder and one under the Terrorism Suppression Act.
He stormed Christchurch's Al Noor and Linwood mosques, opening fire during Friday prayers.
According to a Royal Commission of Inquiry report into the attacks, released in late 2020, the gunman started using the online platform 4chan, often used for hate speech, from age 14. The Royal Commission believed exposure to such content contributed to his actions on March 15.
The 800-page Royal Commission report came with 44 recommendations, all of which the Government has pledged to implement.
