New Zealand shooting: Jacinda Ardern vows never to speak killer’s name as forensic delays impede victims’ burials

But forensic delays have meant that just six of the 50 victims’ bodies have been released to their families so far, with police in Christchurch saying only 12 had been formally identified.

Dozens of relatives of the deceased have travelled to New Zealand from around the world ahead of expected funerals which have already been delayed far beyond the 24 hours after death usually observed under Islam.

News of the delays came as Ardern said on Tuesday that she would do everything in her power to deny white supremacist Brenton Tarrant a platform for his racist views, a day after the 28-year-old fired his lawyer and said he planned to represent himself in court.

“He sought many things from his act of terror, but one was notoriety – that is why you will never hear me mention his name,” Ardern said in an emotional address to a special meeting of parliament, which she opened with the Arabic greeting “as-salaam-alaikum” (peace be upon you).

“He obviously had a range of reasons for committing this atrocious terrorist attack. Lifting his profile was one of them. And that’s something that we can absolutely deny him,” she said, urging the nation to focus on the victims of the massacre in Christchurch.