OPINION: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has a fresh mandate to effectively take control back of her Government.
This mosque massacre was a fork in the road for her as Prime Minister.
Even those who don't support her party and politics are impressed by her deft handling of this truly awful terrorist attack.
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Her approach oozed genuine sympathy and compassion but it was also commanding and decisive.
Those gun changes were as swift as they could be.
Now, I don't want this to come across the wrong way, but they say the best politicians never waste a crisis - and she hasn't.
Respect for her from within own party and her coalition friends will be off the chart.
If Winston Peters doesn't take on the Turks for stoking fear and playing the video of the massacre, then I advise Ardern to bring Winston into line like she never has before.
Her handling of this horror means she can stamp more of herself over this Government.
Her standing with foreign leaders is up, she will pass the gun laws with every party on board, and now she should not be afraid to open the books on the spies.
The opposition says there should be a powerful Royal Commission of Inquiry. She should say sure.
It will be uncomfortable peering behind the curtains, but now is the time to find out what they were doing if they weren't following this alleged gunman and all the obvious and blatant signs he was up to something sinister.
If heads have to roll, kick them down the street. There should be no more whitewashes.
Ardern is also perfectly placed to bring Muslims and non-Muslims together, not just here, but the eyes of the world have noticed this too.
Her image has even been broadcast on the world's highest building - the Burj tower in Dubai. That got me thinking, could she actually win the Nobel Peace prize?
Duncan Garner is host of The AM Show.
