𝕀𝕟𝕢𝕦𝕖𝕤𝕥 𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕠 𝕞𝕦𝕣𝕕𝕖𝕣 𝕠𝕗 𝟝𝟙 𝕄𝕦𝕤𝕝𝕚𝕞𝕤 𝕜𝕚𝕝𝕝𝕖𝕕 𝕕𝕦𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕘 ℂ𝕙𝕣𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕔𝕙𝕦𝕣𝕔𝕙 𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕒𝕔𝕜 𝕓𝕖𝕘𝕚𝕟𝕤

𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕚𝕟𝕢𝕦𝕖𝕤𝕥 𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕠 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕞𝕦𝕣𝕕𝕖𝕣 𝕠𝕗 𝟝𝟙 𝕄𝕦𝕤𝕝𝕚𝕞𝕤 𝕜𝕚𝕝𝕝𝕖𝕕 𝕕𝕦𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕄𝕒𝕣𝕔𝕙 𝟙𝟝𝕥𝕙 𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕣𝕠𝕣 𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕒𝕔𝕜 𝕓𝕪 𝕒𝕟 𝔸𝕦𝕤𝕥𝕣𝕒𝕝𝕚𝕒𝕟 𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕣𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕤𝕥 𝕓𝕖𝕘𝕚𝕟𝕤 𝕠𝕟 𝕋𝕦𝕖𝕤𝕕𝕒𝕪.

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video tribute to the 51 Muslims murdered in the Christchurch terror attack has been played at the opening of an inquest into the massacre, with the coroner calling for the worshippers who lost their lives to remain at the centre of the hearing.

The six-week long inquest into the Christchurch terror attack where 51 Muslims at Al Noor Mosque and Linwood Islamic Centre were murdered began on Tuesday morning.

In her opening address, deputy chief Coroner Brigitte Windley acknowledged and welcomed all those in the courtroom and watching from afar.

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She paid her respects to whānau and friends who lost loved ones and commended them on their positive engagement and patience with the inquiry.

Coroner Windley said the 51 people who died were joined by the events that happened on 15 March 2019, but it did not define them - and they must each be remembered as a unique life that had been lost.

The events of 15 March 2019 deeply affected many and the impact could not be reduced to just a few words, she said.

Coroner Windley also recognised the emergency service personnel and witnesses who helped on the day and were forever impacted.

She acknowledged the inquiry would bring a range of emotions and was "acutely aware" of the responsibility of her role.

She said many had asked her what the point of the inquiry was, and what good could come from it.

The coronial inquest had a dual focus, she said, on the past and the future.

"An inquiry seeks to shine a light on the past by way of an inquisitory process, in an effort to make findings as to the cause and circumstances of death," she said.

"In identifying the contributors to death, the opportunity to fulfil another fundamental purpose of a coronial inquiry may arise. To look to the future, whether comments or recommendations may be made, to reduce the chances of further deaths in similar circumstances."

Coroner Windley said it was not about establishing liability or negligence - but about accountability for actions or inactions.

The road to this point was challenging and unpredictable, but all those involved were committed to a robust and transparent process, she said.

"The scale and complexity of this inquiry is unprecedented in this court."

Coroner Windley said the inquiry was the first time immediate family would have an opportunity to have access to information that had not been previously available.

It was not an inquiry "into the life of the man" found responsible for the deaths.

They were caused by the "deliberate and heinous actions of that individual".

But the inquiry presented an important and critical opportunity to find out what may be learnt "from this atrocity".

Coroner Windley said it took courage for many to be open and willing to reflect.

All involved with the inquest shared the common goal of reducing the chances of similar deaths in the future, she said.

"I ask simply that we keep each of the 51 people whose lives have been lost, and that common goal at the centre of this hearing."

As well as the coroner's opening address, a whakatau and karakia, followed by Imam Gamal Fouda reciting the Qu'ran, opened the proceedings.

A tribute video for those who lost their lives was then played to the court, a request made by the coroner to allow families to show a glimpse of the person their loved one was.

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The inquest will examine the following 10 issues over the next six weeks:

• The events of 15 March 2019 from the commencement of the attack until the terrorist's formal interview by police.
• The response times and entry processes of police and ambulance officers at each mosque.
• The triage and medical response at each mosque.
• The steps that were taken to apprehend the offender.
• The role of, and processes undertaken by, Christchurch Hospital in responding to the attack.
• Co-ordination between emergency services and first responders.
• Whether the terrorist had any direct assistance from any other person on 15 March 2019.
• If raised by immediate family, and to the extent it can be ascertained, the final movements and time of death for each of the deceased.
• The cause of death for each of the victims and whether any deaths could have been avoided.
• Whether Al Noor Mosque emergency exit door in the south-east corner of the main prayer room failed to function during the attack and, if so, why?

The inquest continues.

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