A returned serviceman says he's received violent threats from veterans and members of the public, after he arranged for
a Muslim prayer to be included in a Porirua Anzac Day service.
Commemorations in Wellington at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park. Photo: RNZ / Richard Tindiller
Simon Strombom - who is organising the Titahi Bay service - wanted to include the prayer to acknowledge those killed in
the Christchurch terror attacks.
Following the massacre, members of the RSA removed rifle gunfire from its planned dawn and civic services and agreed to
include a one minute Muslim prayer at the end of the civic service.
Since then, members of the RSA had received appalling messages online from those opposing the move, Major Strombom said.
"I now am getting quite angry about some of the people and some of the ignorance. I mean, I don't think New Zealand lost
its innocence, it's exposed some ignorance of our society."
Major Strombom will meet with the person organised to read the prayer, who he did not want to name, later today to
discuss the backlash.
He said the prayer will go ahead on Anzac Day, as long as safety for the person reading it was not a concern.
RSA national communication manager Shane Wratt said Titahi Bay was the only RSA to include a call to prayer in its
service.