The public continue to show their empathy and support for those affected by the Christchurch mosque attacks with another $169 thousand pledged to Victim Support’s Givealittle page in the past three weeks alone, taking the total to almost $10.7 million.

Victim Support would like to thank donors for their continued support and their trust in our commitment to ensure all funds donated go to the victims. Victim Support will close the Givealittle page on 30 May, in the lead-up to a final distribution by the end of June.

Chief Executive of Victim Support, Kevin Tso, said: “This is testament to the strength of feeling people have about the attacks and their wish to show their support. To put it in context, we would usually raise around $1 million over a whole year.”

“We’d like to thank the New Zealanders who have continued to show their trust and confidence in Victim Support and our role to support victims of crime and trauma. As we’ve said since the very first donation was made, every cent pledged has gone, and will go, to the victims.

“We continue to meet the victims and their families every day and I personally have been meeting victims over the past week to discuss how the final distribution of funds will be made.”

Stephen McCarthy, of Christchurch’s McCarthy Design, organized the Kotahitanga Pins campaign which raised some $85 thousand dollars for the Victim Support appeal. He thanked everyone who had purchased a pin, as well as Victim Support and Givealittle for offering the public a simple and trusted platform to get money to victims quickly and easily.

“We’ve had so much support for it and the pins have gone far and wide globally, helping to create real conversations that will hopefully continue,” said Mr McCarthy.

“With the project we had to move fast and get the design site and product ready in a few days. We felt that Victim Support was also moving fast in a productive manner to help the victims directly.

“We were overwhelmed with the response and able to give around $85 thousand to Victim Support which will go directly to the people who need it.”

Victim Support confirmed a final payment of remaining donations will be made to victims by the end of June, once the Givealittle page has been closed, other donations have all been banked, and the full appeal total is known.

A contingency amount will be held back in case any more victims are identified. Any funds still remaining on 30 September will be handed over to the Christchurch Foundation for victims’ long-term support.

Victim Support will continue to provide ongoing support in the months and years ahead for all the victims who need it.

People can continue to make donations beyond June via the Christchurch Foundation’s Our People, Our City Fund at www.christchurchfoundation.org.nz.

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