"Australians will be feeling this too." Jacinda Ardern's message to Australia. 

Mamamia has chosen not to show the face of the man in custody for the Christchurch terror attack, or to include or link to any distressing material about his acts. Instead, we are dedicated to remembering the names, faces and stories of the victims.

— With AAP.

In a press conference on Wednesday afternoon, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern shared an important message with Australians in the wake of last week’s horrific attack in Christchurch.

When asked if she had a message for Australia, Ardern stressed that the actions of the Australian-born gunman who killed 50 people and injured dozens won’t affect the relationship between Australia and New Zealand.

She acknowledged that Australians, much like New Zealanders, are feeling incredibly uneasy about the accused shooter’s background.

“We’re incredibly aware that Australians will be feeling that too,” she said.

“We have acknowledged that this person was not a New Zealand citizen. They did not grow up with this ideology here. They did come to us and bring this terrorist act with them.

“But we do not see that as a reflection of our relationship with Australia or its people. And so I do draw that distinction. I think New Zealanders draw that distinction.”

Mamamia’s daily news podcast The Quicky on the people we should be remembering in the wake of Christchurch. Post continues after audio.

Praising the “fantastic” support from various Australian agencies, Ardern said she has spoken numerous times with her Australian counterpart Scott Morrison since the attack.

She has also spoken with opposition leader Bill Shorten and Australia’s high commissioner to New Zealand, Patricia Forsythe.

In the same press conference, Ardern also confirmed that a two-minute silence will be held this Friday. A memorial service is also being planned.

She also reflected on the news that some of the victims killed in the attack were Syrian refugees.

“I cannot tell you how gutting it is to know that a family came here for safety and refuge and they should have been safe here,” she said.

In the past week, Ardern has been praised globally for her empathy and pragmatism in the wake of the country’s worst ever massacre, after vowing to change gun laws, pay the funeral costs of the victims, and provide financial assistance for the victim’s families moving forward.

For more on this topic:

These are the names and faces of all the known victims of the Christchurch terrorist attack.

Why the world can’t look away from Jacinda Ardern in the wake of the Christchurch attack.

“These won’t be my best words…” Waleed Aly’s moving monologue on Christchurch.