The Archbishops' call to their churches for solidarity and peace was sent out to all Anglican and Catholic churches in Aotearoa New Zealand today. The full text follows below.

E te whānau a Te Karaiti - Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Peace be with you and upon your homes and families,

We have noted the claims that the attacks on Christian Churches and hotels in Sri Lanka may have been timed for Easter Day as, in part, a reprisal for the attacks on the Al Noor Mosque and the Linwood Islamic Centre in Christchurch.

We mourn the victims who have died, and grieve with those who have faced such terrible loss. Our Christian brothers and sisters have suffered. Our Muslim brothers and sisters here continue to suffer the trauma of brutal and senseless targeting and hatred.

Terror and brutality have no place in any of our faiths. We must stand in solidarity with each other.

We call upon our own whānau and networks to renew their commitment to being instruments of peace.

We must reject hate and intolerance in all its forms. 
We must choose compassion over condemnation. 
We must choose love over hate

As we continue to pray for the victims and their families here, and in Sri Lanka, we are united in grief and in our resolve that love and peace must be our pathway.

Cardinal John Dew

Archbishop Philip Richardson

Archbishop Don Tamihere