(ROUGH CUT - NO REPORTER NARRATION) New Zealanders paused for two minutes of silence on Friday (March 22) to mourn the victims of last week's mosque shootings in Christchurch.

Tens of thousands of people paid their respects around the country with some forming human chains in front of mosques.

Others said silent prayers at schools, cafes and even offices.

Previously in Christchurch, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern joined about 20,000 people standing quietly at Hagley Park, in front of the Al Noor mosque where most of the victims were killed during Friday (March 15) prayers last week.

Most victims of New Zealand's worst mass shooting were migrants or refugees from countries such as Pakistan, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Turkey, Somalia, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.