A mass shooting Friday at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand has left at least 49 people dead and a small country in shock. WGBH Morning Edition Host Joe Mathieu spoke about the shooting and its aftermath with former U.S. Senator from Massachusetts and Ambassador to New Zealand Scott Brown. The transcript below has been edited for clarity.
Joe Mathieu: Ambassador Brown, thank you for joining us on WGBH's Morning Edition, and I'm sorry for the circumstances in which we are talking.
Ambassador Scott Brown: It came out of left field. The whole country's shaken, but the strong — Kiwi strong. And, you know, ongoing certainly, they're trying to find out if there's more to follow, doing a deep dive into the person that was arrested to see what, if any, connections they had to any type of other individuals or organizations. So a lot ongoing; it's fluid. But 49 confirmed dead, and another 30, 40 ... in either surgery or seeking care. So yeah, [it's] really, really disturbing.
Mathieu: We wake up to this news here in Boston, Ambassador, and it sure makes us feel like stories we hear so often here in the U.S. How rare is this in New Zealand, and what are people thinking there?
Brown: Once again, as I said, it is not expected. It's a great country, a lot of diversity, a whole host of different cultures and beliefs here. Everyone does their thing and lives life, and they've been shaken. But, once again, they're strong. They've been fully mobilized. The police and government are doing anything and everything they can. We're certainly offering any and all support that we can to help them. So, you know, we'll certainly learn more as time goes on. But it's certainly disturbing.
Mathieu: Considering the unfortunate experience we have with mass shootings in the U.S., Ambassador Scott Brown, is the United States government offering help in any way?
Brown: Of course, we're offering — there are things that are going on behind the scenes. We have a great relationship, almost 200 years, and we stand strong with Five Eyes, our Kiwi partners, and we'll offer any and all assistance as needed, whether it's medical supplies, or intelligence, or other type of police or law enforcement help. But, you know, the prime minister is right. She and we condemn all forms of terrorism. And she noted it was terrorism, and whether it's the Muslim community or any other community, it's just not acceptable. It's going to be an interesting period of time in New Zealand. And, you know, I'm thankful I'm here to certainly offer any and all help that we can as the representative of the United States.
Mathieu: Ambassador, you wrote in your statement of condolence, Kia Kaha, if I'm saying that right. What does that mean?
Brown: Yeah. Stay strong. It's Maori, obviously, and you know, it's something that we here in New Zealand, the New Zealanders and us who have called New Zealand a temporary home, believe. It's just like what happened in Boston Strong. You know, you just gotta, kind of, do a deep dive, and just look terror in its face and say, you know, we're done. We're not going to take it, and continue on with your routines and work hard and then fight back.
Mathieu: Well, I suspect you'll be able to share some stories to that effect, won't you?
Brown: Yeah. It's sad.
Mathieu: Former Senator and U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand Scott Brown, we thank you for being with us, and we hope that you do stay strong. And the best to everyone there is going through this.
Brown: Thank you. Prayers from everyone from home would be great, thanks.
