Jacinda Ardern leads two-minute silence for Christchurch shooting victims

Thousands are joining Friday prayers and a silence for the victims of the Christchurch shooting, a week to the minute it happened.

New Zealand's prime minister Jacinda Ardern joined thousands in a two-minute vigil, a week after the attacks on two mosques in Christchurch.

She joined Muslims and non-Muslims in Hagley Park, opposite al Noor mosque, to observe the call to prayer followed by the silence.

At least 42 people were killed in the al Noor mosque, and seven in nearby Linwood mosque, after a gunman opened fire at about 1.40pm on Friday, 15 March.

The call to prayer and subsequent silence was also broadcast on television and radio with thousands tuning in.

It comes the day after the government banned "military-style" semi-automatic firearms and high capacity magazines like the weapons used in the attacks.

The country does not have a constitutional right to bear arms.

Ms Ardern said: "The Prophet Mohammed, sallallahu alaihi wasallam (Peace be upon Him) said: 'The believers in mutual kindness, compassion and sympathy are just like one body. When any part of the body suffers, the whole body feels pain.'