Maydad Ronen, a boxer who previously lived in Rotorua, said he lives about a five-minute walk from the iconic beach.
Ronen said he had been training at a park where another festival was taking place, close to the beach where the Jewish Hanukkah festival, Chanukah by the Sea, was held.
“There were other areas in Sydney, in the eastern suburbs, where they were doing Hanukkah celebrations by the harbour, but this particular one was by the beach.”
Ronen, who is Jewish, told the Rotorua Daily Post he got home about 6.30pm.
The shooting began about 15 minutes later.
“When I went home, I found out that this was all going on down Bondi, and I’m so glad I left the park because it was another [potential] target.”
Former Rotorua resident now living in Bondi Beach, Maydad Ronen, has recounted his experience of the mass shooting in Bondi on Sunday. Photo / Supplied
Ronen said he heard gunshots and saw helicopters flying above.
“I walked out on the street, and had these people running through the streets. There was a lady with two kids, and she was just about crying.”
He said the woman had witnessed “two guys” on the bridge by the beach opening fire.
“I said to her, this Italian lady, What’s wrong? I heard about the shooting. What’s going on with the helicopters flying above?”
Ronan watched the footage posted online and realised what had happened.
“We never expected this; it’s heartbreaking.”
Ronen said it was “really sad” and terrible that a shooting of this nature had happened so close by.
The scene at Bondi Beach in the aftermath of the shootings. Photo / Sam Sherry
“Bondi is a beautiful place, we’re living in a beautiful country that has a diverse multicultural influx of different people from different religions, races, and backgrounds.
“It’s sad that we can’t exist together without stuff like this happening.”
“ … It’s really sad that in our day and age, our children have to witness this.”
He said he had people ringing him from all over the world and he had received calls and text messages from Rotorua.
Ronen lived in Rotorua for five years before moving to Bondi in 2004, but said he returned frequently to his “home away from home” to visit family.
He said he returned to Bondi two weeks ago after another trip to Rotorua, where he was formally inducted into the World Masters WBF Boxing Hall of Fame – a significant milestone in his boxing career.
Political leaders condemn shooting
Australia’s Prime Minister has condemned the mass shooting, with Israeli President Isaac Herzog labelling the gunmen “vile terrorists”.
Armed police are standing guard at Jewish sites around New Zealand following the attack.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon issued a statement saying he had spoken with Jewish community leadership in New Zealand to reaffirm his “intolerance for anti-Semitism”.
“Last night’s horrific attack at Bondi Beach has been confirmed by Australian authorities as a terrorist attack targeting Jewish people.
“Hanukkah is a time of peace and joy, not of pain and grief. This vile act of hatred is something all New Zealanders condemn,” Luxon said.
“My thoughts are with the Jewish community in Australia and with people of Jewish faith here in New Zealand and around the world.”
Luxon told RNZ’s Morning Report there were no indications of New Zealanders being caught up in the attack.
“Obviously, many of us know that area very well, having a lot of Kiwis in that area. We will be anxious about that and their relatives.”
Kaitlyn Morrell is a journalist for the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post. She has lived in the region for several years and studied journalism at Massey University.