Plans for film about Christchurch mosque attacks sparks anger among New Zealanders
New Zealand’s prime minister has distanced herself from plans for a film that would focus on her response to the Christchurch mosque attacks.
US-based FilmNation Entertainment is in the early stages of producing a film called They Are Us – the title is a line from one of Jacinda Ardern’s speeches in the days after the attacks.
But the plans have been criticised by many New Zealanders, some unhappy about reports that the film will focus on the prime minister, leaving the victims in the background.
Others have said the 15 March 2019 tragedy is still too raw and that Hollywood should not be able to profit from the suffering of those who are still recovering or grieving.
Ms Ardern told news website Stuff: “While it’s for the community to speak for themselves, it’s my view 15 March remains very raw for New Zealand.
“There are plenty of stories from 15 March that could be told, but I don’t consider mine to be one of them.”
She also confirmed she “had nothing to do with the film in any form and wasn’t consulted on it”.
Fifty-one people were killed when Australian white supremacist Brenton Tarrant opened fire on worshippers in the two mosques.
They are us – the prime minister’s words about the attack’s victims
He was jailed for life without parole last August for the 51 murders, 40 attempted murders and a charge of terrorism.
But in the days after the attacks, New Zealanders were praised for uniting in compassion for the victims and their community, led by Ms Ardern.
She was also lauded for her successful efforts to ban the deadliest types of semi-automatic weapons in the country.
According to Hollywood news outlet Deadline, which broke news of the film, Ms Ardern will be played by Australian actress Rose Byrne.
The film will be made in New Zealand and directed by New Zealand filmmaker Andrew Niccol.
But more than 23,500 people have signed a petition calling for the movie to be abandoned and the hashtag #TheyAreUsShutdown was trending on Twitter in New Zealand on Friday.
Omar Nabi lost his father Haji Daoud in the attacks
Those behind the petition said the film’s focus on white voices “will continue to white-wash the horrific violence perpetrated against Muslim communities”.
Niccol “has not experienced racism or Islamophobia” so he should not “lead and profit” from a “story that is not his to tell”, they added.
Deadline reported that the film’s script was developed in consultation with several members of the mosques who were affected by the tragedy but this has been disputed by members of New Zealand’s Muslim community.
Survivor Farhid Ahmed poses with a photo of his wife Husna, who was killed in the attack
Sondos Qur’aan, co-chair of the National Islamic Youth Association, said the movie “is insensitive and would only serve to invalidate the experiences of survivors and victims of the attack and cannot be supported by our organisation”.
Fellow co-chair Haris Murtaza added: “The shuhadaa’ (martyrs), their families, and the wider victim community deserve to be thoroughly consulted and at the heart of any projects that relate to the 15 March terror attacks.
“Entities and individuals should not seek to commercialise or profit from a tragedy that befell our community, neither should such an atrocity be sensationalised.”
Mohamed Hassan, who hosts podcast The Guest House, which explored how Muslims made sense of the attacks, told Radio NZ: “In its essence, (the film) is a story about an act of white supremacy that is centred around white voices, white feelings and white heroism. The irony is nauseating. The lack of self-awareness is profound.”
Sky News sought comment from FilmNation early on Saturday but Niccol earlier told Deadline: “They Are Us is not so much about the attack but the response to the attack [and] how an unprecedented act of hate was overcome by an outpouring of love and support.
“The film addresses our common humanity, which is why I think it will speak to people around the world. It is an example of how we should respond when there’s an attack on our fellow human beings.”
Entertainment
Eurovision members to discuss voting ‘interference’ rule changes – and potential Israel ban
Members of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) will meet today to discuss Israel’s involvement in next year’s Eurovision Song Contest.
The meeting at Eurovision’s organisers’ headquarters in Geneva will address the new rules intended to stop governments and third parties from disproportionately influencing voting.
Should members not be convinced about the new rules, there may be a vote on Israel‘s participation in 2026.
In November, the EBU changed the voting system for the song contest over allegations of “interference” from the Israeli government.
That came after Israeli singer Yuval Raphael received the largest number of votes from the public in this year’s contest, ultimately finishing as runner-up to Austria’s entry after the jury votes were counted.
After the final in May, Irish broadcaster RTE requested a breakdown in voting numbers from the EBU, while Spain’s public broadcaster, Radio Television Espanola, called for a “complete review” of the voting system to avoid “external interference”.
Dutch public broadcaster AVROTROS added in September that there had been “proven interference by the Israeli government during the last edition of the Song Contest, with the event being used as a political instrument”.
Their statement did not elaborate on the means of “interference”.
Israel has not commented on accusations of interference in voting. File pic: AP
Israeli broadcaster still preparing entry
Israel has not commented on the accusations regarding voting for the contest, which stresses its political neutrality, but it has frequently claimed that it faces a global smear campaign.
KAN, the Israeli public broadcaster, also said it is preparing for next year’s Eurovision content.
It added it will present its position on possible disqualification at the meeting.
Boycotts threatened over war in Gaza
It comes after Slovenia and broadcasters from Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland and Iceland issued statements earlier this year saying they would consider boycotting the contest next year if Israel was allowed to enter over the war in Gaza.
In September, officials from the EBU announced plans for an emergency vote on Israel’s participation, with president Delphine Ernotte-Cunci saying “given that the union has never faced a divisive situation like this before”. The board agreed it “merited a broader democratic basis for a decision”.
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That was then called off in October after Israel and Hamas agreed to the US-backed peace plan for Gaza.
More than 70,000 Palestinians have been killed during Israel’s war in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
It was sparked by the 7 October 2023 attack by Palestinian militant group Hamas on Israel in which 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage to Gaza.
Thousands of members of actors’ trade union Equity are being asked whether they would support industrial action over artificial intelligence protections.
The organisation has launched an indicative ballot among about 7,000 members working in film and TV.
Performers are being asked whether they are prepared to refuse to be digitally scanned on set in order to secure adequate artificial intelligence protections.
It will be the first time the performing arts and entertainment trade union has asked this whole section of its membership to vote in a ballot.
The Hollywood strikes took place in 2023. File pic: AP
The announcement follows the Hollywood strikes in 2023, when members of Equity’s sister union in the US, SAG-AFTRA, and writers, went on strike over issues including AI.
Video game actors in the US also protested over the use of AI, ending almost a year of industrial action earlier in 2025.
Equity’s ballot opens on Thursday and runs for two weeks, and will show the level of support the union has for action short of a strike.
Another statutory ballot would have to be made before any industrial action is taken.
“While tech companies get away with stealing artists’ likeness or work, and the government and decision makers fret over whether to act, unions including Equity are at the forefront of the fight to ensure working people are protected from artificial intelligence misuse,” Equity general secretary Paul W Fleming said in a statement.
“If bosses can’t ensure someone’s likeness and work won’t be used without their consent, why should performers consent to be digitally scanned in the first place?”
Mr Fleming said the ballot would give members the opportunity to “send a clear message to the industry: that it is a basic right of performers to have autonomy over their own personhood and identity”.
The union has no choice but to recommend members support industrial action, he said.
“It’s time for the bosses to step away from the brink and offer us a package, including on AI protections, which respects our members,” added Mr Fleming.
The hotly anticipated Spotify Wrapped is revealing our top tracks, artists and albums for 2025.
But how does the streaming service calculate personalised summaries of users’ listening habits and rank the UK’s hottest artists?
Here’s a look at how your data is used.
The platform describes the annual statistics as “a chance to look back on your year in sound”.
It says data is captured between January and mid-November on every account, although it mostly excludes anything streamed in private mode. (Don’t worry, your passion for the Spice Girls can be kept secret.)
Wrapped presents personalised listening statistics, which Spotify calls the “real story of your year of listening”, alongside global figures for comparison.
The streaming service says Minutes Listened reflects the actual time spent listening to audio on the platform.
Once a user streams at least 30 tracks, Spotify generates a list of Your Top Songs. Similarly, Your Top Artists ranks artists based on total minutes listening to a particular performer.
Other metrics identify the top genres users have played, as well as podcasts and audiobooks ranked by total minutes listened. And if you’ve listened to at least 70% of tracks on a record, you’ll see top albums too.
Spotify also creates Your Listening Age, a guesstimate of your age based on the era of the music “you feel most connected to”.
The streaming service says the statistic is calculated using a five-year span of music which users engaged with more than other listeners of a similar age.
Spotify has been summing up 2025’s most listened to tracks. Pic: Spotify
Swift vs Bunny
Pop superstar Taylor Swift has been named the UK’s most-streamed artist on Spotify for the third year in a row.
But she dropped out of the top spot in the global rankings, coming second to Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny, who secured more than 19.8 billion streams. Third was The Weeknd, followed by Drake and Billie Eilish.
Bad Bunny’s LP Debi Tirar Mas Fotos was the most listened-to album worldwide.
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Spotify revealed Drake was the UK’s second most-listened to artist, followed by Sabrina Carpenter in third, The Weeknd in fourth, and Billie Eilish in fifth.
Despite being the most listened-to artist, Swift failed to break into the UK’s top five most listened-to songs and albums of the year.
Alex Warren’s Ordinary was the most-streamed song, and Short ‘N’ Sweet, released by Carpenter last year, the top album.
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