Illawarra community leaders have spoken out, condemning the terrorist attacks in Christchurch.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The attacks on two mosques has now claimed the lives of 50 people, with a further 50 people on the injured list.
A total of 36 people - two critical - remain in Christchurch Hospital, while a young girl is in Auckland's Starship children's hospital.
Australian man Brenton Harrison Tarrant, 28, formerly of the northern NSW town of Grafton, is the only person charged with murder from Friday's attack, confirmed as a terror attack by police.
He appeared in Christchurch court on Saturday where he faced one charge before he was remanded in custody. He is likely to face more before his next appearance on April 5.
NZ authorities believe there was only one shooter involved in the attack on the two mosques in Christchurch, the worst shooting in the country's history.
Gwynneville's Omar Mosque chairman Munir Hussain - who has lived in Australia for 57 years, 52 of them in Wollongong - said the "wicked" and "uncalled for" attack had "upset the whole Muslim world".
He also called on the government to act on Islamophobia, which "exists in the media and among the politicians".
"Pauline Hanson and former Labor leader Mark Latham, he was here in Wollongong [recently] and saying there should be no multicultural Australia, he wants to send everybody back," he said.
"These politicians are opportunists, they have used terrorism to gain popularity among their own electorates and we are the pawn."
'Innocent lives lost'
The Christchurch shootings were "the act of deranged terrorists who have no respect for life and liberty", the Illawarra's government MP says.
Gareth Ward, the region's parliamentary secretary, said Friday's attacks were "the theft of innocent life".
"Just as we have stood with New Zealand in every conflict of the modern era - today we stand as one people in common humanity against those who challenge our shared values of peace, harmony and freedom," the MP said.
"We are one with you New Zealand."
Evil won't take city's beauty: MP
Illawarra Labor MPs have offered their support.
"The Christchurch I know and have visited has always been a place of great beauty, both its environment and its people. Evil has not taken that away. It never will," Member for Keira Ryan Park said.
"My thoughts are with those who are grieving the loss of loved ones and for all those that call NZ home."
Wollongong MP Paul Scully was with Muslim worshippers at the Omar Mosque in Gwynneville when news of the tragedy broke.
"I was standing with them at that time and stand with them now and into the future. No one should be the victim of hate crimes - ever," Mr Scully said.
The community is invited to attend the Illawarra People for Peace community vigil to honour the victims of the Christchurch terrorist attack on Monday, 5.30pm out the front of the Wesley Church on the Mall. More details here.