Jacinda Ardern has comforted students at a Christchurch high school that lost two students in the March 15 terror attack.
The Prime Minister reassured the students of Cashmere High there is no specific threat to New Zealand right now, but that the country must remain vigilant.
She also implored the students to reach out for help if they're feeling overwhelmed by the events of Friday, when 50 people were killed at two mosques.
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"Events like this; these are not things New Zealand has ever experienced before. These kinds of things don't happen here, where we live," Ardern said.
"We are a place that is peaceful, diverse - it has over 200 ethnicities and 160 different languages, and we celebrate that."
Ardern suggested it's natural to feel upset and helpless in times of grief, and told students not to hesitate to contact the designated helpline 1737 - "even if you weren't directly affected".
"These things, these images people are seeing, they are really, really difficult to process, and so we have a number 1737 - a text or call number," she said.
"Over 600 people yesterday of the day before contacted that number, and if you know anyone that's having a hard time or think could use someone to talk to, please tell them: 1737."
The Prime Minister also emphasised the importance of using social media for good, in light of the alleged gunman, a 28-year-old Australian national, posting a livestream of the shooting online.
"Social media can be a place where we can do good," she said, referencing how Facebook was used to bring thousands together for the Hagley Park vigil in Christchurch on Monday.
"But it can also be a place where messages of hate and division are spread," Ardern told the students.
"There's things we need to do to confront that and I want you to know we're going to try and do that alongside some of our international friends."
Newshub.
