Ōtaki stood with Christchurch at 1.39pm on March 22, marking a week to the minute after a gunman began his terror at two of the city’s mosques. At Te Wānanga o Raukawa, a sausage sizzle raised funds for the victims, then staff, local kura and the community gathered for a sombre two minutes of silence. There were Māori, Pakehā, young, old, men, women in headscarves, visitors, locals, all holding hands in solidarity with the Christchurch victims. Then a powerful haka broke out, bringing tears to many. Ōtaki College had a red-and-black mufti day with gold coin koha going to the Christchurch appeal. Students wrote messages inside a large heart on the college quadrangle, at 1.38pm there was a minute’s silence, followed by a karanga at 1.39pm and a college haka a minute later.