The largest coronial investigation New Zealand has ever seen will begin in Christchurch on Tuesday.
The atrocities of March 15, 2019 are set to be examined over the next six weeks with victims' families seeking clarity and truth about their loved ones' final moments.
March 15 will long be remembered as New Zealand's darkest day. But three-and-a-half years on it's unanswered questions have left the Muslim community in the dark.
"What actually happened that day that we don't know about," March 15 Whānau Trust co-chairperson Rashid Omar said.
At just 24 years old, Tariq Omar had his future stolen from him. His father Rashid continues to hold onto the precious moments.
"I drove him all the time to football, for his training, his games," Omar said. "He loved football."
It's been a gruelling wait for the coronial process, put on hold by the gunman's prosecution and the Royal Commission of Inquiry.
That report drew criticism from the Muslim community for not going far enough and for failing to admit more could be done to prevent 51 lives from being lost.
"It's been very, very long. Quite tedious actually," Omar said.
"It's actually re-traumatising many people," Al Noor Mosque Imam Gamal Fouda added.
While the Coroner can't hold anyone to account, the first phase of the inquest can make recommendations on how to deal with future events. Ten issues, all relating to the day of the attack, are set to be examined.
These include:
- The efforts of first responders
- How Christchurch Hospital dealt with the attack
- The steps taken to apprehend the gunman
- Whether more could have been done to save lives
- Finalising the time and cause of death
But there are two questions that have barely been discussed in public, which are likely to draw the most attention.
Did an emergency exit door fail to function at Al Noor Mosque, and was Brenton Tarrant the only gunman that day.
"What actually happened that day that we don't know about. That's the most important thing to everyone," Omar said.
Numbers don't lie when discussing the scale of this inquest. Eighty hours of video footage could be called upon as evidence with thousands of documents, images and recordings being considered too.
Then there are 600 family members registered to attend the inquiry in person, while 100 others are viewing online from afar.
While the inquiry won't bring back loved ones, there's hope it could bring some closure.
"I will never ever forget, this is not closure for me. I'm hoping for a bit of relief for me, and my family."
There is hope that justice can be found for the innocent 51.
